Would banning cars altogether in a section of Port Moody’s Suter Brook Village neighbourhood make pedestrians feel safer?
That’s a question the city’s mayor would like residents of the densely packed district of condos, shops and offices at the corner Ioco Road and Murray Street to ponder, as they’ll be given an opportunity to comment on a traffic-calming plan before it’s implemented.
It was complaints by those residents about speeding cars and delivery vehicles, inattentive drivers failing to yield to pedestrians and chaotic parking arrangements that sparked a review of traffic management in the area — with the addition of two new condo towers and a six-storey rental building imminent.
Mayor Rob Vagramov said it’s only fair those residents be given a voice in any effort to fix the problems.
“We’ve seen in the past stuff has been done and it hasn’t been up to snuff to the people living there,” he said.
A plan devised by the city in collaboration with the neighbourhood’s developer, Onni, includes several measures to slow vehicles, bring order to the chaos and create a more pedestrian-friendly environment:
- making Brew Street permanently one-way
- extending the median on Murray Street to prevent left turns from Murray into the neighbourhood
- removing the right-turn channels at Murray and Morrisey so traffic has to slow down when entering and exiting the neighbourhood
- raising intersections along Morrisey Road at Brew Street, Suter Brook Way, Capilano Road, as well as at the intersection of Suter Brook Way and Brew Street
- constructing curb extensions at several corners to slow traffic and improve pedestrian comfort
But Vagramov suggested the changes still might not be enough.
He said closing the northern loop of Brew Street to vehicles entirely should also be considered.
Coun. Hunter Madsen said the implementation of traffic calming in Suter Brook must also consider future development nearby, including the adjacent property at the corner of Ioco Road and St. Johns Street that’s owned by Appia Developments, as well Wesgroup’s massive plan for Coronation Park just across Ioco.
“This plan needs to be able to address the full capacity requirements of the whole area.”
However, Port Moody’s general manager of engineering and operations, Jeff Moi, told council a traffic study for the area conducted in 2018 did account for future projects.
As well, the new developments will also be built with direct walking links to the Inlet SkyTrain station.
“Vehicle traffic capacity in the village is fine,” he said. “This is about pedestrian experience.”
Coun. Zoe Royer said making Suter Brook safer is paramount.
“Anything we can do to make our community more walkable helps to get people out of their cars.”
In a report, Port Moody transportation engineer Geoffrey Keyworth said a new traffic signal that had been planned for Capilano Road at Ioco is no longer being considered because of the street’s steep gradient and “S” curve that would present visibility problems.
But, he added, Onni is prepared to foot the $500,000 cost for the improvements.
Moi said with construction set to begin soon, and completed by September, any further consultation with residents will have to be expedited, likely through an information mail-out with an opportunity to respond with comments.
