With the pump track becoming increasingly popular, there have been several close calls between kids and vehicles on Pioneer Loop.
While the District has installed playground signs around the pump track, Jason Bradley, Director of Operations and Infrastructure says it hasn’t helped.
Moving forward says Bradley, the plan is to reduce the speed for the entirety of Pioneer Loop to 30 km/h. “Due to the limited length of roadway on Pioneer Loop,” writes Bradley in a report to council, “having both a 50km/h zone and a reduced 30km/h zone on the same roadway would likely create confusion for motorists.”
This would mean that the sections of Pioneer that are used to access Northgate and Southgate would be 30 km/h, though those two roads would still be 50 km/h.
Councillor Norbury believes it would be “more appropriate to just have the loop zone between the two streets be 30 km/h, but have the connectors at 50 km/h.”
Councillor Guilick disagrees. Despite the fact that she likes being able to drive faster along that stretch to get to downtown, the continuity of the 30 km/h zone makes sense to her. “With most of our streets being either 30 km/h or 50 km/h, to divide it up would be confusing…I appreciate the continuity of it. For the limited amount of space from Mackenzie to Southgate, people aren’t going to be getting up to 50 km/h anyway. I see the sense of making it all 30 km/h.”
Councillor Hofman agrees. “I don’t think it’s going to matter. There’s not a lot of room to get up to 50 km/h either way. I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m just saying most people aren’t going to get to 50 km/h.”
Norbury also notes that the town did away with the 30km speeds for much of the downtown, partially in response to ICBC being unwilling to offer driver’s tests in Tumbler Ridge as students were unable to drive at typical speeds. However, this will not affect driver’s tests, according to Mike Rispin, Manager of Driver Licensing – North Interior.
Bradley says the cost for this has yet to be determined, though Public Works already has the signage in stock. “Should Council approve this reduction, Administration would work closely with community partners to determine if the number of dangerous occurrences declines or if additional measures should be implemented.”
Because Pioneer Loop is classified as a municipal roadway, the District can determine an appropriate speed zone for this area, without needing the speed to be set by the Ministry of Transportation.
In his report to council, Bradley says the town is also investigating other safeguards such as fencing or the installation of an enhanced crosswalk. “However, these options would be only made in addition to the speed reduction recommendation, not as an alternative to it” writes Bradley. “With a decrease in speed, the motoring public gain an increase in reaction time that correlates to a decrease in overall braking distance.”
But council thinks a crosswalk from the Legion parking lot—where many people park to go to the pump track—would be a good idea. “A crosswalk would be super beneficial right there,” says Councillor Noksana. She also wonders if there’s a flashing speed sign so that people can see the speed change. Mayor Krakowka says just because they don’t have it, doesn’t mean they can’t get it.
The motion to change the speed limit on pioneer loop to 30 km/h passed, as does one asking staff to install a crosswalk from the Legion Parking lot. Signs noting the speed limit changes have already been installed, while the crosswalk will go in later in the spring, once the ground is no longer frozen.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
