The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) community is growing and expanding with new development. This is increasing vehicle traffic and places where vulnerable road users and vehicles intersect. A brand-new soccer field will bring external traffic and internal traffic and pedestrians; a new leased building of 300 external people will come into the community daily to work; and a new connector road brings in traffic from 3000 nearby residents. All three of these influences are intersecting in the same new neighborhood on what is known as Apex Drive. Installing a speed reader board to this area will highlight the 30km/hr speed limit and ensure visibility on driver speed as they approach this soon to be busy area. A speed board will be placed at the existing crosswalk that intersects where pedestrians will access the soccer field.
Adjacent to the above noted area (and connected by a pedestrian and bicycle path) is a new housing development located on a cul-de-sac. This development will have 54 units. Across the street from the housing are two new modular buildings, one for Nation staff and one will serve as a high school forapproximately 20 students. This area was previously forest land so all roadway use and development is brand new and all forms of road use will connect into the TWN community on Spa-ath St. We are placing a speed reader board on this street to slow traffic. The speed limit here is 20km/hr. The road currently has limited sidewalk and will require pedestrians to walk on the street for a portion of it. Driver awareness of speed is critical to vulnerable user safety.
Speed is the number one safety concern of TWN members routinely. Traffic safety is one of seven objectives identified for our enhanced police unit. And with growth in the area, it is critical that we offer visual reminders to vehicles of the speed limit. The two areas for speed reader boards are where the greatest growth in development is, coupled with either large pedestrian traffic and/ or limited bike/ pedestrian infrastructure. Both areas are also where we receive the most complaints from residents about speeding. Area 1 on Apex Drive is 30km/hr but for the southbound vehicles entering, they are coming from a 50 km/hr road. For area 2 on Spa-ath the speed limit is 20km/hr but eastbound traffic is entering from a 50km/h road.
