30 km/h speed limit for minor streets in six Vancouver areas begin this year | Daily Hive

30 km/h speed limit for minor residential streets in six Vancouver neighbourhoods begin this year

30 km/hr speed limit sign. (City of Courtenay)

There will soon be a quieter and safer changes rolling in Vancouver’s residential neighbourhoods: new 30 km/h speed limits on many local residential streets.

The City of Vancouver has begun installing new speed limit signs in six areas, marking the first phase of a broader plan to calm traffic on minor residential streets, which are typically narrow and do not have a painted centre line.

Over the coming months, residents in River District, the West End’s Denman West area, Grandview-Woodland, Mount Pleasant, the Downtown Eastside and nearby Strathcona, and the St. George’s neighbourhood will see the posted limit drop from the provincial default of 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

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In Summer 2025, Vancouver City Council approved the shift unanimously, framing it as a public-safety measure aimed at reducing serious injuries and deaths on local roads. Under provincial rules, urban streets default to 50 km/h unless a municipal government posts otherwise.

“Improving safety on our local streets takes partnership. Speed limits are there for a reason. They protect kids walking to school, families out for a stroll, and seniors crossing the street in our neighbourhoods. When we slow down, we save lives,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim in a statement today.

Paul Storer, the City’s director of transportation, added, “Lowering speed limits on local streets is one of the most effective ways we can protect lives and have safer, more welcoming neighbourhoods. At 30 km/h, drivers have nearly twice the time to react, and collisions are far less likely to result in serious injury or death. This is a practical step to improve day‑to‑day safety for everyone using our streets.”

The first six neighbourhoods are just the beginning. The City plans to introduce a total of 25 slow zones over the next three years, with the pace of expansion tied to future budgets.

Due to provincial regulations that require posted signage to note any exceptions, City staff estimated that in 2025, it would cost about $14 million to install two 30 km/h signs on each applicable city block across Vancouver.

Instead, the City is installing more limited “gateway signage” in residential neighbourhood entries. If gateway signage were installed for all neighbourhoods, the cost would reach $3.1 million.

For this cost reason, last summer, City Council approved City staff’s recommendation of a multi-year, phased implementation.

It was previously noted that 17 of these neighbourhoods already have some traffic calming measures in place, with most vehicles in such areas already operating below 30 km/h. The remaining eight neighbourhoods require additional traffic calming measures.

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