These arterial roads in Vancouver now have lower speed limits

700 block of West 49th Avenue in Vancouver. (Google Maps)

The City of Vancouver has reduced the speed limit in nine school zones in an effort to make the roads safer for everyone.

Busy routes along 49th Avenue and Commercial Drive are just a few of the streets impacted as the City launches its Vision Zero pilot.

The transportation safety action plan is intended to “eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries” and will exclusively run at elementary schools.

“Studies show that lowering vehicle speeds can significantly reduce the impact and likelihood of crashes and make our streets safer for people who walk, bike and roll,” a release reads.

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The pilot focuses on elementary schools since students at this age are more vulnerable road users than high-school-aged students, the City explained.

So, starting Monday, drivers are expected to slow down and adhere to the new speed limit during school hours (8 am to 5 pm on school days).

The speed to these seven schools and the corresponding streets have reduced from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr:

Dr. Annie B Jamieson – 600-700 West 49th Avenue
John Norquay – 4600-4700 Slocan Street
Florence Nightingale – 400 East 12th Avenue
Dr. George M Weir – 5900 Rupert Street
Stratford Hall – 3000-3100 Commercial Drive
Henry Hudson – 1900 Cornwall Street
šxʷwəq̓ʷəθət (Crosstown) – 0 Expo Boulevard

Some of these routes are considered arterial roads, including West 49th Avenue, East 12th Avenue, Commercial Drive, and Expo Boulevard.

Drivers near these two schools, which are on collector routes, will now see the speed limit reduce from 50 km/hr to 30 km/hr:

Sir Wilfrid Laurier – 800 West 57th Avenue
Waverly – 6100-6200 Elliott Street

“The selected locations represent a wide variety of schools, road uses and street configurations and are located on the city’s east and west sides,” the City explains.

The speed limits for school zones on major roads like Kingsway, Clark Drive, Knight Street, Broadway and 41st Avenue will remain unchanged, the City ensures.

To ensure drivers are aware of the new speed limits, the City is installing regulatory signs and localized signage at the schools.

“Community Policing Centre volunteers will also be at some locations to provide support through the Speed Watch program to raise awareness among drivers of their speeds in real-time,” the City added.

For years, the municipal government has put in place lower speed limits of 30 km/hr on Hastings Street through the Downtown Eastside instead of the usual 50 km/hr typically reserved for an arterial route.

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