In two to three months, the city of Richmond will reduce the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour on most residential roads west of No. 5 Road. Major thoroughfares will remain unaffected and will maintain the speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour.
The city council unanimously passed the relevant bylaw amendment, and the new legislation is expected to be formally passed at the next meeting. City Councillor Laura Gillanders stated, “This is an appropriate speed limit. Not all residential areas in Richmond have sidewalks, and there are also children riding bicycles, so this is very reasonable.”
Years ago, the city of Richmond had already reduced the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour on some roads in certain areas, such as Steveston. The new regulations will significantly expand the speed limit area, covering almost all major residential areas in Richmond. However, there are some exceptions, such as the area in the city center bounded by Blundell Road to the south, River Road to the north, Gilbert Road to the west, and No. 4 Road to the east.
City Councillors Kash Heed and Bill McNulty jointly introduced the motion in response to frequent pedestrian injuries near the downtown business district. They were referring to a section of No. 3 Road between Granville Avenue and Westminster Highway. This stretch of road is home to the Richmond Centre shopping mall, the SkyTrain station, and several high-rise residential buildings, but the upcoming new regulation does not cover this area. Sid expressed hope that a separate motion could later be implemented to include this area in the scope of the new speed limit.
The new regulations also adjust relevant policies to make it easier for the municipal government to implement traffic slowdown measures, such as setting up speed bumps on the road surface. After the new bill is formally passed, the city will install traffic signs with a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour in phases. The project is expected to take place this summer and will last approximately two to three months.