Nov 27 - More local streets may drop to 30km/h

Good morning !

A few years ago, a number of local municipalities wanted to do a pilot project that would lower street speeds for the majority of Greater Victorians all at once.

The province didn’t want them to use that structure, so they’ve each been pursuing bylaw changes to drop speeds. Today’s story looks at the latest one to enter that process.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

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NEWS

Sidney looking at lowering local speeds to 30km/h

The municipality already limits speeds to 30 in its downtown and some other roads, by bylaw. The new option could reduce all “Local” (i.e. not arterial or collector) roads to the same. 

Council voted in mid-Nov. to have staff prepare a report on the drop for 2024, and may choose to have a public consultation period following that report. Streets default to 50km/h in BC, and while some Sidney signs list specific speeds they are unenforceable without a bylaw backbone. 

The process syncs up with Sidney looking at other road speeds and uses; collector and arterial roads could be revised down to 40km/h, and some are already slated to drop to 30 due to sharing space with bikes. Sidney’s Active Transportation Plan would have Bicycle Boulevards on Weiler Ave West, Fifth north of Sidney Ave, and Bowerbank.

Several munis have recently gone to 30 on residential roads

Victoria, Saanich, and Esquimalt are in the process of shifting. Those changes have cited research indicating that pedestrians survive 90% of such crashes vs. just 15% at 50km/h.

Sidney was originally going to join those and other local municipalities in a speed-reduction pilot project, but had to pivot to its own process due to the province’s lack of interest in these multi-muni safety pilots. 

Weighing what it would take (and cost) to make the change

The staff document also looks at what it would take to implement changes. Physical traffic calming measures like speed bumps are floated, and several signage options are presented. Those include:

• $150K to add 300 signs advising of individual streets’ speeds

• Targeted signage on priority streets

• Targeted signage at the entrance to Sidney (if it makes all its streets the same speed) at $10K for 20 signs

• Targeted signage at neighbourhood entrances, at $30K for 60 signs

Staff also suggested getting funding from BC’s active transportation grants. 

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Fog continues this morning, and may return tonight. Sunday’s advisory for Greater Victoria, the Malahat, the East Island, and Southern Gulf Islands warns of near-zero visibility and possible slipperiness.

Sooke’s Church Road closed tomorrow and Weds. from Wadams Way to Throup Road for work on upcoming roundabout.

Survey on EV charging infrastructure in Victoria ends this week.

Weather this week: Sun and cloud, then a rainy weekend. All around 7C.

NEWS

Langford auctions Canada soccer game suite to help food bank 

To raise money for the Goldstream Food Bank, the city is taking bids on access to its stadium suite at Canada’s women’s national soccer game vs. Australia on Friday. Until 8pm tonight, the city is taking bids on a package of the suite, 30 VIP tickets, and a $1,000 food-and-drink credit.

Mayor Scott Goodmanson said that the food bank, which serves people throughout the Westshore, “needs the community’s support now more than ever.” 

More people are using the food bank every year, president Gayle Ireland says, and they expect to distribute around 700 Christmas hampers this winter. Overall food bank use is up 57% since 2019, per Food Bank BC, while donations are down 30%. 

The two-game series—here and then in Vancouver—is a warm-up for the Paris 2024 Olympics and marks the end of international soccer-star Christine Sinclair’s career with the women’s national team. Canada Soccer announced its 25-player roster last week.

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🥞 The best brunches in Victoria, according to readers like you. [Tasting Victoria]

🤔 What is counselling all about? It’s about compassionately bringing parts of the self together, supporting and unburdening them. It’s about learning to have your own back. Learn more today.*

🎅 Watch the Santa parade from this past weekend in this video from CHEK’s YouTube.

🐋 Orcas playing near Galiano in “majestic” display recorded by from locals. [CBC]

🏆 The Shelley Davies prize draw results are in! Congratulations to all our winners: Anne H. of Saanich, Janice C. of Victoria, Stephen Z. of Saanich, Carolina Trejo of Victoria, and Jason Y of Victoria! If you didn't win this time, make sure to subscribe for your next chance to win!*

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🗞️ In Other News

Warmer winter weather expected for Island
El Niño’s weather effect is projected to make the season less chilly, and possibly less snowy. [Nanaimo News Now]

Dogs join birthday party at assisted living home
After strokes left him in a wheelchair and assisted living home, a local man found purpose again in greeting the dogs that pass outside. They and their owners recently came to celebrate his 58th birthday. [CTV]

Loose wolf dog killed pet, Coombs couple say
They say the “wild serial killer” snatched up their French bulldog, and fear it will target a person next. They want it killed but conservation officers have no jurisdiction to do so because wolf dogs are pets, not wildlife. [CHEK]

UVic swim teams 4th and 5th at Canada West championships
Victoria-raised Lauren Crisp closed out her Canada West career by winning a solo silver and bronze and being part of both bronze-winning relay teams. [Vikes]

🗓️ Things to do

🎙️ Timmy’s Happy Christmas: Tim Tamashiro will present nostalgic holiday songs and stories tonight at Charlie White Theatre, 7:30pm. 

🎥 A Haunting in Venice at Cinecenta: The Hercule Poirot mystery starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh is on today, 7pm. 

🎭 Give the gift of opera! Golijov’s Ainadamar premieres in February and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in April. Two show combo from $50, single tickets from $30. The perfect gift!*

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👀 In Case You Missed It

How salmon “SWAT teams” protected Island fish from the drought using shovels, excavators, and oxygen. [LJI / Capital Daily]

10 vegan-friendly food options in Victoria [Tasting Victoria]

Man successfully identified after being found outside in cold without ID, and with memory problems, Saanich Police said in a Sunday update.

Cold season: COVID’s fall wave is declining by some measures, but flu and RSV are rising. [Sunday newsletter]

UVic basketball vs. UBC: The Vikes men won both weekend games vs. UBC, but the women lost both.

Eileen’s Gourmet Cafe will close Dec. 31 after 30 years on Oak Bay Ave., citing due to unaffordable rent increases. [Oak Bay News]

That’s it!

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