Residents split on proposed First Avenue and Lansdowne Street changes: City of Kamloops survey
KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is recommending council to push forward on an attempt to improve traffic flow at a key downtown intersection after a survey suggests residents are split.
The city held an online survey from Jan. 16 to 26 that asked residents if they support or oppose proposed changes at First Avenue and Lansdowne Street. The changes include removing the southbound left-turn lane from First onto Victoria Street and creating a second northbound left-turn lane from First onto Lansdowne.
According to the results to be presented during Tuesday’s (Feb. 27) Kamloops council meeting, 49 per cent of the 483 responses support the changes while 51 per cent oppose.
The survey says most of the opposing respondents say their reasoning is general traffic or access concerns. The second leading reason is consideration of active transportation users, followed by wanting an alternative solution and the city focusing on other areas or projects.
Nearly three quarters of respondents say their method of travel through First and Lansdowne is via vehicle.
Image credit: City of Kamloops
Image credit: City of KamloopsCity staff is asking council to continue with the design and construction of the short-term traffic flow improvements at First and Lansdowne while revisiting improvement options in the future.
The city claims the renovations would reduce delays on Lansdowne Street by 30 per cent, making First Avenue more efficient by allowing the Lansdowne light to stay green longer.
If the changes are approved by Kamloops council, construction would begin in the spring.
