West Vancouver to install four-way stop at Fulton Ave and 13th street

District of West Vancouver is installing a new four-way stop at the intersection of Fulton Avenue and 13^th street to improve pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle safety. The district had been collecting data on intersection stops after several citizens complained about over speeding in the area.

The district also plans to explore other improvements such as refreshing pavement markings at crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety.

Additionally, the district plans to explore various traffic calming measures, including mountable centre medians, corner bump outs and rapid response flashing beacons at crosswalks, Raymond Fung, a district official told the council few months ago.

Fung was responding to a citizens’ concerns about speeding along Fulton Ave, who feared that it will lead to an accident.

“Fulton Ave is too wide for pedestrian safety and the fact that the street doesn’t have a sidewalk is a safety hazards. It’s a disgrace that Canada’s wealthiest postal code can’t provide even this simplest form of expected urbanism,” a citizens told the council recently.

Sacha Jones lives on Fulton and said it’s looked upon as a thoroughfare by many people and it is one reason why speeding is an issue for people living on the street. Fulton is used as an alternative to Marine drive as it’s quicker than getting caught up in lights and traffic, especially at rush hour. Another issue is the fact that people often don’t stop at the four-way stop and if they do, it’s a rolling stop. Drivers are not looking for or expecting pedestrians,” Jones said.

Jones said what adds to the safety concern is the fact that there are two schools within the area but there isn’t a clearly marked crosswalk on Fulton between 15th and 21st street. “Many children walk to and from these schools and they are forced to cross at unsafe, poorly marked intersections. It’s incredibly dangerous and really only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

Besides the safety improvements proposed for Fulton Ave, the district is also planning on some streetscape improvements around the municipal hall site to improve pedestrian experience.

Fung said the staff plans to do post construction review of the corridor after these improvements have been made to determine how effective the speed reduction measures have been.

Jones, meanwhile, says the four-way stop is a good step but the district should closely monitor the stop. West Vancouver citizen Signy Ireland’s  20-year old daughter has had two accidents at the intersection of Fulton and 14th. Ireland says the district needs to install another four-way stop at this intersection as well.