Shared roadways on Songhees Nation can be made safer for both drivers and other road users with the installation of three (3) Safespace Evolution solar-powered LED speed indicator signs, resulting in fewer accidents and injuries. We have divided Band 656 Songhees Nation residential roads into 4 distinct areas for speed reduction measures.
Key goals:
A dense residential population, narrow roads, no posted speeds, excess speed, hard-to-read sign faces, damaged and faded signage, a mix of community and indigenous use, and pedestrians and numerous delivery vans and vehicles sharing the same roadways, are making unsafe conditions for all users on reserve land. This current four-grant application project is a first step to slow the speed limit, provide feedback on driving habits, calm traffic, and keep people safe and injury free. A short drive through Songhees Nation land easily provides evidence of the road safety need addressed. We have ten complete trailer parks testifying to residential density. Long-term we will widen roads and bring them up to a higher construction standard, lay down safe and wider sidewalks, and provide more walking and biking pathways. This will be accomplished through other partnerships.
The desired impact of the project will be to bring down speed on all roadways making roads safer for all road users, particularly in playground and dense residential areas, increasing safety and preventing serious injuries.
This project specifically targets the installation of three separate Safespace Evolution FM 15" faced free-standing units, full matrix with bluetooth and solar radar. These units will monitor speed and traffic volume on three significant roadways - two on Cooper Rd, and one on Ned Williams Rd where a playground is located, and provide instant feedback to motorists as to current speed. Speed limits on the sign can be changed remotely or changed at the sign. They require no electrical installation and have a lifespan of approximately 10 years.
Our roads are often only 6m wide, rather than the standard 7.5 m width so are more dangerous. Cooper Rd and Ned Williams Rd, with a playground, are normal narrow indigenous roads. However a high volume of off-reserve traffic still uses them as a shortcut to by-pass busy city roadways.
