Slow down the traffic on 20th Avenue South, Creston Town Council was told at its regular November 28 meeting.
Resident Debbie Marion produced a page of signatures from residents in the area to back her assertion that her street is a dangerous place to drive and walk on.
Connecting Canyon Street with Erickson Road, 20th Avenue South offers drivers an approximately 700 metre straight stretch without a stop sign and little on-street parking. It has been the site of two traffic studies, in 2011 and 2014, Colin Farynowski, manager of engineering, told Council. Those studies, using speed boards and traffic counters did not indicate a particular problem, he said.
While concern was expressed that the electronic speed boards can provide misleading information because the speed display warns speeders to slow down, Farynowki said that the boards can also be used in “stealth mode”, with the speed display turned off.
“The speed board can lead to slower traffic, at least for a while, but when they are in stealth mode, drivers tend not to even notice them,” he said.
Marion also requested that a sidewalk be constructed to connect Birch Street with Erickson Road. That request, she was told, would be referred to 2018 budget discussions.
Council passed a motion directing staff to collect information and report back with data and options if Marion’s concerns are confirmed.
In other Town Council news:
• Farynowski provided council with a draft of a well source assessment and protection plan, and a final draft will be provided in the near future. Wells on the west side of Highway 21 are in place to supplement water supplies if needed.
• Council authorized staff to apply for $24,950 in emergency preparedness funding from the Union of BC Municipalities. The application will be made in order to align emergency planning with the RDCK’s efforts.
• Council directed that a request be made to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for the installation of overhead crosswalk lights at Canyon Street and 20th Avenue South.
• Water and sewer rates will be reviewed during the 2018 budget discussions.
• Responding to a presentation by Paris Marshall Smith, the RDCK’s sustainability co-ordinator, Council referred a proposal to join the Community Sustainable Living Advisory Committee in 2018.
‘There will be more information coming,” town manager Lou Varela said.
• Mayor Ron Toyota’s attendance at a local government leadership academy in 2018 was approved.
• PCSS senior boys’ volleyball team was awarded a $500 grant to help with expenses to attend the provincial championships in Langley.
• In the absence of a vacationing Toyota, Couns. Adam Casemore has been serving as acting mayor and chaired his first council meeting in that capacity.