Port Moody Approves $140,000 Traffic-Calming Pilot for Student Safety

Port Moody’s city council has unanimously approved a traffic-calming pilot project aimed at enhancing student safety along Upper Noons Creek Drive. On September 16, 2023, council members allocated $140,000 for the one-year initiative, which will implement several safety measures, including pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, lane narrowings, flexible post delineators, and a speed-reader board.

Mayor Meghan Lahti expressed gratitude to local residents for their patience, highlighting their advocacy for improvements in the area. She stated, “I think this is an important part of safety in this area, especially as it’s adjacent to an elementary school, and it’s really important we move on to some solution.” The decision follows long-standing concerns from residents regarding speeding, blind corners, and congestion, particularly during school drop-off times.

Upper Noons Creek Drive serves as a critical connector between Port Moody’s Inlet Centre neighborhood and Coquitlam’s Westwood Plateau, carrying thousands of vehicles daily past Mountain Meadows Elementary. Since the early 2000s, the city has sought ways to alleviate traffic issues on this corridor, and the pilot project aligns with recommendations from the 2017 Master Transportation Plan.

Understanding the Traffic Challenges

Councillor Diana Dilworth, a long-time resident of the area, remarked on the challenges posed by increased traffic, stating, “Noons Creek never used to go through to anywhere, it just stopped.” The opening of an access route to David Avenue has significantly increased traffic volume, straining the original design of the road.

Despite a posted speed limit of just 30 kilometers per hour, data indicates that approximately 85 percent of the 3,250 daily drivers exceed this limit, with speeds reaching 50 kilometers per hour on both sides of the street and 40 kilometers per hour in front of the school. A survey conducted last fall revealed the depth of community concern, with over 127 responses highlighting the urgency for action.

Details of the Pilot Project

The pilot initiative emphasizes pedestrian safety while acknowledging the geographical challenges of the area. Due to steep grades exceeding 8 percent, traditional speed humps and raised crosswalks were deemed impractical. Instead, the plan focuses on visual aids and modifications to crossings, with nearly half of the budget—approximately $45,000—allocated for the installation of the flashing beacons.

Councillor Callan Morrison noted the high level of community engagement and the innovative funding approach. Unspent allocations from the 2023 and 2024 traffic calming budgets will finance the pilot project. “The feedback… is significant for this area, considering you had 160 to 170 responses, and that’s sometimes what we get when we ask the entire city to respond on something,” said Councillor Amy Lubik, emphasizing the strong support from local residents and the Transportation Committee.

While Dilworth endorsed the inclusion of flashing beacons and new crosswalks, she cautioned against removing the existing three-way stop, suggesting that it could lead to confusion among drivers. “While there’s no longer a three-way stop here, that doesn’t mean you get to blare through,” she remarked.

Councillor Samantha Agtarap echoed these sentiments, describing the pilot as a “continuous improvement project.” “I think this is an important part of safety in this area, especially as it’s adjacent to an elementary school, and it’s really important we move on to some solution,” she said.

The construction costs for the pilot are estimated at $100,000, with a 40 percent contingency factored in. Funding will come from $30,000 remaining in the 2023 traffic calming program, $60,000 from 2024, and $50,000 from 2025. City staff will provide follow-up reports after one year, including before-and-after traffic data and community feedback, allowing for an assessment of the pilot’s effectiveness in enhancing safety along Upper Noons Creek Drive.