10th Avenue and Surrey Street Intersection Safety Review
Project update March 16, 2021: Thank you to everyone who participated in the virtual community meeting on March 10. Click here to review the presentation slides from the meeting. We heard a great deal of support for the recommended design changes in the 10th Ave and Surrey St intersection area. We will work to implement the changes in the coming months, with more substantial boulevard changes on 10th Ave to be initiated next year.
Overview of Road Design Changes
The table below summarizes the concerns we've heard through public engagement with residents to date, and how the recommended intersection and area traffic design aims to address each concern. Please click here for an illustration of the recommended design.
No. | ISSUE | RESPONSE FROM CITY AND BINNIE |
01 | Vehicle speed is too high along 10th Avenue and along Surrey Street. Drivers are not adhering to the speed limit, especially around the park zone. | As part of the recommended design, the sidewalk along E. 10th Avenue would be widened to include a boulevard, which would narrow the road width to provide a visual indication to encourage drivers to slow down. In addition, the existing playground sign with the ‘30 KM/H’ sign tab would be moved closer to the roadway. A Speed Reader Board is also recommended for installation to bring awareness to the drivers. |
02 | There is not enough traffic law enforcement from the City of New Westminster Police. | The City has shared this issue with New Westminster Police. |
03 | There is a lack of communication between the City of New Westminster and the City of Burnaby. | The City will continue to communicate with the City of Burnaby, including communicating about the recommended plan and the outcome of the March 10 community meeting. |
04 | Google Maps is directing drivers to use Surrey Street, Cariboo Road and 10th Avenue as commercial truck routes. | The City has informed Google of their map navigation errors and the impacts on the community. |
05 | Too many people are making illegal left turns to get onto Cariboo. | As part of the recommended design, a custom ‘Lane Use’ sign would be installed in advance of the intersection to inform drivers of the allowable movements. From site observations by Binnie and feedback from residents, most drivers making the illegal left turns onto Cariboo travel northbound through Surrey Street. Therefore, Surrey Street has been recommended to change to a ONE-WAY southbound street. |
06 | There is a need for safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists at the intersection. | Numerous pedestrian and cyclist improvements have been recommended. These include:
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07 | Signs are either not visible or they are being ignored. | A review of existing signage has been completed and new signs are recommended that would be more effective for the area. The City has shared these issues with New Westminster Police including the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit. |
08 | There is not enough room to maneuver around vehicles that stick out on 10th Avenue. | Illegal left turns onto Cariboo Road are discouraged in the recommended design with the usage of signage and the change of Surrey Street to a ONE-WAY southbound street. |
09 | There are issues with noise around the intersection, as many vehicles have to use their horns. | City Bylaw enforcement officers have been made aware of these issues. Noise due to high vehicle speeds may be addressed by the suggested measures. |
10 | As the weather gets colder the streets will get more dangerous and trucks may not be able to turn. | Heavy commercial trucks are not allowed to access E. 10th Avenue from Surrey Street. The recommended design would change Surrey Street to a ONE-WAY southbound street. |
11 | Traffic is diverting onto Ladner Street and is disruptive. | The City is currently conducting vehicle counts and will be reviewing for traffic diversion when data is available. |
12 | The appearance of the New Westminster side of the intersection is unappealing. | The recommended design on the south side would include boulevards and wider sidewalks. Newer and better-located concrete barriers are also recommended on the south side of the Cariboo Road intersection to improve pedestrian comfort. |
13 | There is poor vision coming out of the alley between Surrey Street and Ladner Street. | Given the recommended design, obstruction caused by illegal left-turn vehicles at the intersection would be mitigated, as this movement would not be allowed. The City has permanently removed the nearby shrubbery causing the sightline issues and will monitor to trim tree branches when needed. |
14 | There has been an increased volume of vehicles since the intersection was modified. | The City would need to collect traffic data at the intersection to verify this observation. In addition, the City would also be collecting traffic data and conducting speed studies on adjacent local streets to determine if speed humps may need to be installed at a later date. |
15 | The delineators do not deter people from turning left illegally from Surrey Street onto Cariboo Road. | Delineators would be removed as part of the recommended design. Surrey Street would also be changed to a ONE-WAY southbound street to discourage drivers from using Surrey Street to access Cariboo Road. |
16 | Drivers have been hitting the delineators with their vehicles. | Delineators in the intersection would be removed. |
17 | The intersection configuration and delineator placement lead to vehicles and commercial trucks to hit the traffic light pole when turning right off Surrey Street onto 10th Avenue. | Delineators in the intersection would be removed. In addition, Surrey Street would be converted to a ONE-WAY southbound street which would eliminate vehicles and commercial turning right from Surrey Street onto E. 10th Avenue. |
18 | Surrey Street, Cariboo Road and 10th Avenue are being used as commercial truck routes and are not designated commercial truck routes. | As part of the City’s response to community feedback, the City has already installed larger, more visible signs on Surrey Street at Richmond Street, and Richmond Street at E. 8th Avenue to deter commercial trucks from using Surrey Street. In addition, as part of the recommended design, Surrey Street would be converted to a ONE-WAY southbound street, and therefore it would not be possible for commercial trucks to access E. 10th Avenue from Surrey Street. |
19 | There is a lack of adherence by drivers and a lack of enforcement New Westminster police to the existing park zone speed of 30 km/hr on Cariboo Road and 10th Avenue. | The City has shared these issues with New Westminster Police. A Speed Reader Board would also be installed on E. 10th Avenue as part of the recommended design. |
Over the past several years, local residents have been raising concerns about the intersection of E. 10th Avenue and Surrey Street in New Westminster, bordering Burnaby. To respond to these concerns, the City has enlisted the services of R.F. Binnie and Associates Ltd. transportation engineers to perform a safety review, identify key concerns from local residents, and provide recommendations for how the City of New Westminster could address concerns.
The Phase 1 Safety Review has been underway since October 2020 and has included multiple meetings with neighbourhood residents to date, including a virtual meeting on December 10, 2020 that was broadly promoted and open to any interested community members to participate.
As part of the City's response to community input to date, we installed larger, more visible signage on Surrey Street at Richmond Street and at Richmond Street at E. Eighth Avenue to deter commercial trucks from using Surrey Street as a route. Click here for a map showing where the signs were installed.
