A plan to address traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety in Suter Brook Village could end up costing Port Moody taxpayers almost $500,000 if all the recommendations in a staff report are implemented.
Tuesday evening, city council will consider a plan that includes an expenditure of $35,000 in 2020 to change Brew Street (the street that Thrifty Foods fronts on to) to one-way traffic for a trial period of up to a year.
Jeff Moi, the city’s general manager of engineering and parks, said the money would pay for new signage, the installation of temporary curbing and the costs of monitoring traffic. He said even though Brew Street is a private road that belongs to Suter Brook’s developer, Onni, changing traffic patterns to improve the functionality and safety of intersections is within the city’s jurisdiction.
If Brew Street ultimately becomes one-way permanently, it would cost another $160,000 to complete the traffic pattern changes, according to the report.
Other recommendations include replacing the pavers on Suter Brook Way — a municipal street that intersects with Ioco Road — with asphalt and reconstructing intersections at Brew and Morrissey streets. That work would cost an estimated $250,000 from Port Moody’s paving budget and would be prioritized against other future paving projects in the city.
The staff report also recommends spending $2,000 in 2020 to convert several curbside parking stalls into commercial loading zones and another $5,000 to evaluate the neighbourhood’s street lighting levels. Another $25,000 would pay for the future completion of a paid parking study.
Onni, meanwhile, will spend $2,000 to designate special areas for waste collection on garbage pick-up days.
The recommendations grew from concerns raised by residents and business operators at Suter Brook.
In a survey, they identified pedestrian and traffic safety issues — especially at the intersection of Brew Street and Suter Brook Way — speeding, a lack of loading bays to service businesses in the development as well as congestion caused by daytime deliveries and garbage collection. The city also conducted a walking tour that included seven residents.
