The city of Port Coquitlam will reduce the speed limit along Shaughnessy Street from 50 to 30 kilometres per hour between Elgin and Wilson Avenue.
Dave Currie, the city's manager of transportation, said the change is appropriate given the high pedestrian activity in the downtown area. He also noted that the existing operating speed of vehicles moving through the area is already relatively low and the reduction would make it easier for vehicles to move in and out of parking spaces along the road.
"We will be installing the speed limit signs in the next two weeks," he said. "We will also be formally amending the traffic bylaw... as part of a permanent change."
The city's Master Transportation Plan calls for improved walkability in the downtown area. Currie said the reduction in speed will make the neighbourhood safer and more comfortable for pedestrians.
The transportation solutions and public works committee made the decision on Wednesday after a request to reduce the limit came in from the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association.
Lih-Ming Tam, president of the PoCo BIA, said creating a more pedestrian friendly downtown will be good for business. He added that several members of the association have reported seeing numerous near-collisions between pedestrians and vehicles along the stretch of road.
"It wasn't a question of if someone would get hit," he said. "Someone is going to get hit."
