Update: Not so fast: higher speed limit gets second look

Nov 25, 2019 | 7:00 PM

Update

Plans to increase the speed limit to 70 km/hr along Commonage Road have come to a screeching halt.

Vernon council put the gears in reverse and voted to keep the existing speed limit along 3 km of the city’s jurisdiction of Commonage Road.

Coun. Scott Anderson and Coun. Dalvir Nahal voted against the reconsideration.

Coun. Brian Quiring, who originally supported the motion on Nov. 12, said the speed increase is something he can’t support after doing some research.

“I went out there at lunch today and I measured the shoulders. The shoulders are 36 inches wide on the east side and 32 inches wide on the west side, so when you are going uphill you are on a 32 inch wide shoulder, so that’s dangerous and that’s all there is to it. The road is not built to a standard to support 70 km,” he said.

Quiring also said that his daughter hit a deer on the road, and he was also passed by a driver going 120 km while on a solid yellow line.

Anderson reminded council that the road was engineered for 70 km and spoke of a 319-signature petition in support of the speed limit change.

“I’m for the 70 km speed limit. I think it’s safer. I think it accommodates what everyone is already doing and I’m supporting it”. Anderson said.

Coun. Akbal Mund emphasized another petition started by Jolene Mclellan against the proposed speed increase and noted that a majority of those that signed it were residents of Vernon, as opposed to the petition Anderson spoke of that was in favor of the speed increase

“This is where they are from; Burlington Canada; St Mary’s U.S.; Windsor Canada, Winchester U.S; Yarmouth Canada, Halifax Canada, Old Town U.S. This one just says Canada, Thunder Bay Canada, Fredericton Canada, Vernon Canada, St. Johns Canada, Vernon, Vernon , Vernon, Vernon, North Las Vegas, Oshawa Canada, Austin U.S. Those are just some of the petitions that want the speed increased so I’m sure they use the road a lot,” said Mund sarcastically.

In defence, Anderson said that those who signed the petition are residents of Vernon, but are out of town as snowbirds.

The speed increase along the city’s jurisdiction of Commonage Road was sharply opposed by city staff citing collision frequency, reduced sightlines and risk of serious injury.

About 80 crashes happened along the road from 2013 to 2017. Approximately fifteen of those were in the city’s jurisdiction.

Original

Vernon council may hit the brakes on an earlier decision to increase the speed limit on part of Commonage Road.

Council will discuss a motion at their meeting today to reconsider upping the limit from 60 to 70 km-h after opposition in an online petition which generated over 300 supporters.

The request for reconsideration was made by Councillor Brian Quiring who voted in faovur of the motion two weeks ago.

The opponents to the higher speed are concerned mostly about crashes and safety.

A resident on the road launched an online petition against the higher limit, which at last report, had about 300 supporters.

A former city manager led the charge to have the speed increased.

City bylaw on reconsidering motions:

After a decision has been made on a matter, two (2) members of council, with the mover being a member who voted in the majority, may at any time within one month move for a reconsideration thereof, provided such question has not been acted upon by an officer, servant or agent of the Municipality.

Council shall not discuss the main question, until the motion for reconsideration is passed in the affirmative. lf a motion for reconsideration is lost, the question shall not be reintroduced to Council for six months, except with the unanimous consent of council.

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