Steveston streets plan will widen sidewalks, lower speed limits

Council in Richmond, B.C., has voted to lower the speed limits in the Steveston neighbourhood to 30 km/h from the currently posted 50 km/h, and approved changes to streetscapes in the area.

Situated by the mouth of the Fraser River, Steveston has two national historic sites and a popular boardwalk. It was voted Metro Vancouver's best neighbourhood by CBC readers in 2020.

As part of the consent agenda for Monday's council meeting, Richmond councillors approved long-term changes to various streets in the area in order to support the neighbourhood's reputation as a popular spot for tourists and preserve its small-town community feel.

The plans would mean parking spots are concentrated on Chatham Street, while Moncton Street and Bayview Street — which are closer to the waterfront and the core of Steveston Village — will get expanded sidewalks and more cycling infrastructure, respectively.

The switch to lower speed limits came after a survey in which 76 per cent of local residents who responded supported the move, with a staff report saying it was to "improve safety for people walking and cycling."

Coun. Carol Day said the Steveston neighbourhood was particularly dangerous for pedestrians and people with dogs and strollers.

"There's very few sidewalks, there's even some ditches, and the roads are very, very narrow," she told Monday's council meeting.

Speed limits and signage in the area will likely be changed in the next few weeks, along with an accompanying media campaign, according to staff.

Some councillors suggested further changes could be made to Steveston's streetscape in the future.

Coun. Michael Wolfe said he was in favour of a different option than the one passed by council, which would have allowed for a protected cycling lane on Bayview Street.

That plan would have made Moncton Street one-way westbound.

Coun. Laura Gillanders expressed concern about the potential loss of parking spots on Bayview Street with the expanded cycling infrastructure there.

The street would be converted into a "shared street", where pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles are all provided equal priority.

In response, city staff said they were conducting a study on parking spots in the Steveston area, and they would report back to council in the future on how parking spots were utilized.