Port Coquitlam has come up with plans to reduce congestion during drop off and pickup times at two city schools.
Although PoCo received a request for traffic calming measures on Evergreen and Chestnut streets to slow down traffic to and from the BC Christian Academy (BCCA) campus on Fernwood Avenue, it was determined the use did not warrant such an action. But the city did agree there were “challenges” and decided to develop a “safe route to school” plan.
A report to council Oct. 15 said the city would be implementing a ban on stopping from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the south side of Fernwood across from BCCA to eliminate children crossing the street between parked cars without a designated crosswalk.
Additional drop-off spots on Oakdale Street can be considered if needed said the report. It also suggested the school encourage parents to park a block or two away and finish the trip with their children on foot to alleviate the vehicle rush on Fernwood.
The city also received complaints from Oxford Heights residents of Irvine elementary students being dropped off and picked up on Robin Place, a local no-thru road. Although it didn’t offer any solutions for Robin, the report said the city will install temporary parking curbs on the south side of Renton Avenue to prevent vehicles from parking illegally and impeding pedestrians.
Both schools are slated for reconstruction (Irvine’s is expected to begin in 2020 said the report) and the plans for both include on-site drop-off/pickup zones. Coun. Darrell Penner said he would like the city to develop policy to enforce parking requirements within the development permit for the projects.
In addition, the city intends to reinstate its safe routes to school program it had implemented in 16 of 19 Port Coquitlam schools from 2009 to 2014.
ggranger@tricitynews.com
