City looks into Bella Vista speeding concerns

Jul 19, 2021 | 11:00 AM

City of Vernon staff say vehicle speeds on Bella Vista Road are within acceptable levels, with an average of 52 kilometres per hour.

A delegation to council from residents of Sandon Drive in May called for speed limit signs, a crosswalk and concrete barriers over concerns about speeding vehicles on that part of Bella Vista Road.

ln response to the delegation, city administration completed sightline assessments at multiple intersections on Bella Vista, collected speed and traffic volume data, and collected pedestrian data on Bella Vista Road at Sandon Drive. Administration also hired a consultant to conduct a concrete barrier warrant assessment.

Collected data showed that:

No pedestrians were observed on Bella Vista Road at Sandon Drive on a 7-hour Saturday count.
The 85th percentile speed on Bella Vista Road was 58 km/h (i.e. 85 per cent of vehicles travelled 58 km/h or slower).
The average speed on Bella Vista Road was 52 km/h.
The average daily traffic volumes were less than 5,500 vehicles per day.
All intersections between Heritage Drive and Okanagan Hills Boulevard meet the required minimum stopping sight distances for the operating speed of 58 km/h.

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Based on the data and assessments performed, it was determined that:

A crosswalk is not warranted on Bella Vista Road at Sandon Drive (as per Transportation Association of Canada’s Pedestrian Crossing Control Guide).
Observed speeds on Bella Vista Road are within acceptable thresholds for the speed limit of 50 km/h (based on Council’s Neighbourhood Traffic Management Policy).
All road intersections between Heritage Drive and Okanagan Hills Blvd meet the required minimum stopping sight distance for the operating speed of 58 km/h (as per the Transportation Association of Canada’s Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads).
Roadside barriers are not warranted along Bella Vista Road by Sandon Drive, as determined by the transportation engineering consultant using national warrant procedures.
A sidewalk is not recommended on Bella Vista Road as the City’s Pedestrian & Bike Master Plan identifies a future off-road trail on the south side that is anticipated for construction within the next 10 years. The trail may be utilized by pedestrians.

City staff is recommending relocating the existing curve warning signs closer to the curves and adding speed advisory tabs to those signs.

The recommendation will be discussed at today’s Vernon council meeting.

by Pete McIntyre

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