I met last week with the City’s Director of Engineering and Manager of Transportation to discuss pedestrian safety on 2nd Street. It was a constructive and respectful conversation. I appreciate that they took the time to walk through the history, current plans, and data guiding their decisions.

Here’s what I learned.

2nd Street is already included in the City’s past Queen’s Park Traffic Calming Review. That review identified speeding and traffic volume concerns and recommended measures such as speed tables and other traffic management tools. Some of this work is intended to be coordinated with upcoming paving and utility upgrades. Paving has already been completed near Queens Avenue, and further work along the rest of 2nd Street is currently expected in late 2026 or 2027.

The City also shared information about the planned Third Avenue Active Transportation route. This includes pedestrian crossing improvements and traffic calming at the 2nd Street & 3rd Avenue intersection. The broader project is focused on walking and cycling improvements along Third Avenue, with some intersection upgrades included.

In short, improvements are being planned. However, they are largely tied to previously identified projects and paving coordination. There is not yet a confirmed corridor-wide pedestrian safety review of the entire length of 2nd Street.

During the meeting, I raised the concerns many of you have shared here. Speeding. Rolling through four way stops. Distracted driving. Cut through traffic toward the bridge. Concerns that traffic may increase further once the new signal at 6th Avenue and 2nd Street is operational. Residents described feeling on alert while walking, even when using marked crossings.

I also raised the importance of looking at 2nd Street as a whole residential corridor, from Royal Avenue up to the Herbert Spencer Elementary school zone. Possible measures discussed included speed tables, improved crosswalk visibility, flexible delineator posts at crossings, upgraded lighting, and other traffic calming tools. Prioritization is influenced by ICBC collision data, but factors such as proximity to schools and parks are also considered.

What happens next?

The City has not committed to new measures beyond what is already planned, but staff indicated they are reviewing the area and continuing to coordinate improvements with paving and Third Avenue upgrades. Plans are still evolving.

This is where continued community input matters.

If you have not yet contacted City Council or staff about pedestrian safety on 2nd Street, now is an important time to do so. Decisions about scope and prioritization are influenced by public feedback. The more consistent and specific the input, the stronger the case for a comprehensive approach.

I will continue to share updates as I receive them. Thank you for staying engaged and informed.