Complaints about speeding on Beach Avenue have prompted Peachland’s mayor to have staff look at traffic calming measures.
At the June 10 council meeting, Mayor Patrick van Minsel raised concerns about speeding on Beach Ave. between 12th and 13th streets, and the stretch of 13th Street leading to Highway 97.
He noted residents have complained to him that the area is being used as a race track.
“We are also witness to that because we are sitting there on a regular basis to have a coffee at Bliss (Bakery)—the speeding there is just mind-blowing.”
The mayor asked staff to investigate traffic calming measures for those zones and consider lowering the speed limit on 13th St. to 30 km/h, matching the current limit on Beach Ave.
Speeding is a known issue in Peachland. RCMP recently reported drivers going as fast as 65 km/h on Beach Ave.
In response, portable speed bumps were placed on some sections of the street last summer, which led to a noticeable drop in speeding violations. Since March 1, officers issued or warned 68 drivers—about 90 per cent of them locals.
On June 11, the province announced safety upgrades at the Trepanier Bench Road and Highway 97 intersection. A new traffic signal will be installed this summer. Work on Buchanan Road North and South intersections is also planned to improve traffic flow
These changes were prompted by increased local and tourist traffic and follow recommendations from a 2015 Peachland transportation study.
