Port Moody scales back Suter Brook traffic-calming plan

Port Moody council unanimously approved a revised Suter Brook Traffic Improvements Plan on July 28, replacing several major traffic-calming projects with measures expected to be faster and less disruptive to build.

The new plan drops three proposed raised intersections, curb extensions on Brew Street and reconstruction of the Murray Street-Morrissey Road intersection. It instead calls for standard crosswalk markings, two raised crosswalks at Murray and Morrissey, added speed humps, another raised crosswalk and 30 km/h signs.

The city and Onni, the original developer and commercial property owner, have worked for years on concerns involving pedestrian safety, loading, parking circulation and speeding. Brew Street has already been converted to one-way traffic and loading zones added. Raised crosswalks and speed humps built by Onni on Capilano Road and Brew Street still require some remediation, the city says.

Engineering and operations general manager Jeff Moi told council that the original reconstruction would require extensive excavation, drainage work and potentially lengthy road closures. A traffic study commissioned by Onni found no current congestion issue, an average vehicle speed of 27.5 km/h and four vehicles exceeding the former 50 km/h limit among 2,137 observed.

Coun. Samantha Agtarap said residents, including people with accessibility challenges, have been asking when the work will be completed. The work satisfies an Onni development requirement that initially called for a traffic signal at Ioco and Capilano roads; after that signal was deemed infeasible, Onni posted an $800,000 letter of credit for replacement improvements.