Members of Town of Osoyoos council appear ready to impose a year-round speed limit of 30 km/h along Cottonwood Drive, but the majority of them are not prepared to do the same thing along Lakeshore Drive.
Because Cottonwood Drive is a short road and one of the busiest in town during the peak tourist season and has numerous condominium and townhouse complexes, it’s appropriate to lower the speed limit on this roadway, said several members of council Monday.
However, there wasn’t nearly the same consensus when it came to lowering the speed limit along Lakeshore Drive.
This is a long stretch of road and many local residents and visitors would be very upset at having to travel two or three miles at a very low rate of speed, said Mayor Stu Wells.
When it comes to lowering the speed limit on Cottonwood, “some people will want it seasonal and others will want it year-round,” said Wells.
He’s convinced lowering the speed limit along the entire length of Lakeshore Drive would receive far more negative than positive response.
Some members of council are in favour of imposing a speed limit along Lakeshore, but only during tourist season from the middle of May until the middle of September.
Wells said Lakeshore is a very busy roadway during peak tourist season as there are numerous campgrounds and hotels along the stretch, but lowering the speed limit to 30 km/h would cause an uproar among locals and visitors alike.
“I would challenge you to go in your car on that stretch at 18 miles an hour,” he said. “That is very slow and it takes a long time to get down that road, especially during tourist season. You are going to have very frustrated citizens and campers. I know you’re talking about safety and kids, but I think we’re going to make things worse.”
Wells said he would prefer a mobile sign which warns drivers about crosswalks and clearly posts how fast drivers are moving as a better solution.
“I think signage is the answer,” he said. “I don’t think making people go 30 km/h for that entire stretch of road is the way to go.”
Coun. Mike Plante agreed.
Plante said he’s in favour of lowering the speed limit along Cottonwood Drive to 30 km/h year-round considering it’s a short drive and there are so many people living there year-round and that road is packed with tourists from May to September.
However, imposing the same speed limit along the much longer Lakeshore Drive would upset a lot of residents, he said.
He also favours erecting signs and lights to warn people to use caution at all times.
Coun. C.J. Rhodes said he’s not convinced lowering the speed limit this low would improve safety as having them so low would make some drivers so upset they would ignore the limit anyway.
Coun. Sue McKortoff, who first recommended lowering the speed limit along Lakeshore several weeks ago, did not agree.
“I’m going to have to disagree with you gentlemen,” she said. “It is a narrow road and there are many hidden driveways … there have been numerous accidents on that road. I’m definitely in favour of a 30 km/hr speed limit down there and I think it should be passed.”
Coun. Michael Ryan supported McKortoff saying the sheer volume of traffic and people during the tourist season cries out for reduced speed.
“I feel strongly about it … that’s my position and I hope this is what we will do,” he said.
Wells said he expects a lot of people to voice their opinion on this issue before council makes a final decision.
The use of flashing lights and mobile signs to warn drivers would allow people to feel safe during the peak tourist season, while allowing local residents to continue the current speed limit the rest of the year, he said. Council voted to listen to public concerns about this issue before making its final decision at its next meeting.
