A busy street in Port Moody’s Suter Brook Village will stay one way.
At its meeting on April 25, council endorsed a staff recommendation on a pilot project to make Brew Street one way permanently.
The aim is to improve pedestrian safety in the dense mixed-use neighbourhood that includes condos, shops and offices.
The pilot project was implemented after years of complaints from residents about speeding cars, vehicles circling Suter Brook’s streets looking for free curbside parking spots, commercial vehicles impeding traffic and pedestrians, as well as inattentive drivers.
In addition to restricting traffic to one way on Brew Street, temporary curb extensions were built where the private road intersects with Suter Brook Way and signs advising motorists of turning restrictions were erected.
In a report to council, Port Moody traffic engineer Geoffrey Keyworth said a consulting company hired by the city to monitor the temporary measures noted:
- pedestrians had an easier time crossing Suter Brook Way and there were fewer near-miss incidents with vehicles
- there were fewer pick-ups and drop-offs from vehicles at a 90 degree bend on Brew Street
- it was easier for motorists to get around delivery trucks
- drivers tended to stick to appropriate speeds
Keyworth said Port Moody police observed similar compliance and the public expressed general appreciation for the effort.
He added the development’s owner, Onni Group, will now be directed to make the calming measures on Brew Street permanent at its expense.
Other initiatives of the overall traffic calming plan for the neighbourhood include:
- extending the median on Murray Street to prevent left turns from Murray into Suter Brook Village
- 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 Book Way and Capilano Way, as well as at the intersection of Brew Street and Suter Brook Way
- constructing more curb extensions at other intersections
