This project will see traffic calming measures designed for and installed in a residential neighbourhood. Through this project, the Village engaged a transportation engineer to review the appropriate steps toward improved road safety and traffic calming. The Village then purchased and will be installing temporary and permanent traffic calming solutions in Spring 2025. Community members, the school community, and our local Interior Health, Healthy Communities Development Team will be involved along the way.

The 8th Ave – Columbia St – 11th Ave Corridor is a residential neighbourhood located immediately northeast of Lucerne Elementary Secondary School, which also houses a daycare and a preschool. Many New Denver residents, including from the Denver Siding neighbourhood across Highway 31A, travel on this corridor to access the school, grocery store, downtown, Slocan Lake, community parks, and more. School children travel this route daily. Traffic calming in this neighbourhood is proposed in order to realize the goal of a Vision Zero corridor. Although we are not aware of any reported traffic incidents in this neighbourhood, perceived safety is essential when it comes to people’s comfort and use.

In a 2021 community survey supporting the development of New Denver’s ATNP, which received 149 responses (New Denver’s population is approximately 500), 42% of respondents identified lack of developed sidewalks & trails as a top challenge, 41% identified vehicle speed as a top challenge, 49% identified more developed sidewalks & trails as a top improvement to be made, and 40% identified traffic calming as a top improvement to be made. Given the above, proceeding with implementation of traffic calming measures in an area that has been identified as part of the Lucerne School Corridor is a practical and valuable first step in supporting active transportation as identified through the 2021 ATNP. It also works toward the community’s goals of creating connectivity, being inclusive, and improving safety.

Through engineer consultations, temporary/portable curb extensions and increased signage and street marking were identified as the traffic calming measures of choice. The design are completed and the materials have been ordered and delivered. The curb extensions will be installed in the spring of 2025.