A Port Moody councillor is urging the city to pull back on its implementation of a “slow streets” program on Spring Street that’s intended to discourage drivers from using it as a thoroughfare.
The temporary pilot project to give pedestrians and cyclists more room to move safely as more people use active transportation to get around during the COVID-19 pandemic also extends to St. George Street. It was scheduled to begin Sept. 28, although barriers and signs have yet to be put in place.
Coun. Hunter Madsen said several businesses along the Spring Street corridor have voiced concerns the restrictions could impact the ability of customers to get to their business or park nearby. He said that could be especially worrisome as several are already being disrupted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
“Surely the city would not wish to inadvertently introduce at this time any further commercial challenges that would seem likely to seriously impeded local businesses,” Madsen wrote in a report to be presented to council at its committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday.
In a letter to council, the owner of the Burrard Public House, Damir Dugandzic, said he and other businesses along the east-west corridor that runs between St. Johns and Clarke streets “were not consulted or even notified with the proposed changes.”
Ross Edwards, the owner of Saint St. Grill, expressed a similar sentiment in another letter.
“Partially cutting off or in any way impeding customer access to businesses, especially during COVID-19, is not acting in the best interests of anyone,” he said, adding he’d like to see the program postponed “until we can have a frank and thorough discussion.”
Madsen, who’s vice-chair of the city’s transportation committee, said a temporary slowing of the traffic calming measures for Spring Street would give the city a chance to work with the businesses along it, and maybe even convince them it could work in their favour.
