Last week we ran a poll asking you what you think is the best option to ease traffic congestion in Kelowna after running a story about Kelowna city staff suggesting dedicated bus lanes on Hwy 97 would help with traffic congestion in West Kelowna.
Adding a second bridge was the most popular suggestion, receiving 45.3% of the vote, with building overpasses on Harvey coming in second with 29.1%,
followed by syncing traffic lights on Harvey with 15.4%, none of the above with 6.81% and having dedicated bus lanes on Hwy 97 coming in last with 3.4%
Below are a few of the responses our readers left on the poll.
You can vote in this week's poll here.
Until we add a second crossing all other suggestions are no more than bandaid approaches. The valley needs a second crossing that bypasses Kelowna all together and allows commercial/passenger traffic bound for Vernon and beyond a way around the entire city. The proposed crossing from the connector, down near main, and across to McKinley would do just that. Currently our infrastructure and planning is not even designed for what we have now let alone all the buildings and apartments approved.
Any of these options are more productive and a better solution than dedicated bus lanes. Please travel at rush hours to see that buses are NOT the problem. I commute daily from West Kelowna to Kelowna and it's the influx of tourists (RVs, trailers, big trucks) seasonally. But with our population growth as well we need a long term solution. Please don't waste money on this horrible idea.
We need a road by passing Kelowna completely for the traffic and semis just traveling through on the Hwy. I also think we need a electric subway that goes from one end of Kelowna to the university that the buses connect to. A very well designed transportation system is needed if we want to achieve less cars on our roads. Our city's infrastructure was never designed to have this many people living here.
The transition to overpasses might take a long time, but future road building should include that. Our city is in a big transition and we need forward thinking young people that can transition us to a big city —- or don’t allow the city to get any bigger.
Overall reduction of traffic lights on the highway. No highway should have that many controlled intersections through a major city.
Where is "All of the above" option!?!?! There needs to be a pedestrian overpass at Hwy 97 and Abbott. We also desperately need dedicated Right Turning lanes along the majority of side streets along Hwy 97 (Spall, Dilworth & Burch to name a few). Dilworth needs a dedicated right turn lane at Enterprise Way. A dedicated right turn lane on Benvoulin Rd and Springfield. So many minor intersection improvements could make traffic flow so much better along with “smart” traffic light integration.
The Bridge is a real problem, but it’s root cause for delays is Harvey. Too many traffic lights on Harvey /97. No need for every street to cross the highway. Start putting priorities on key streets and build overpasses. In meantime syncing lights badly needed. Get rid of light at Abbott. Expand left and right turn lanes and always have turn lights working.
We need an increase in transit options. More busses running every 15 mins would increase users. I have to drive to work everyday due to infrequent busses and lack of bus times and the exchange at the university never matches up with the next bus. I am part of the traffic problem having to drive everyday.
Improve bicycling infrastructure. It is apparent people like the rail trail. Wider bike lanes and PROTECTED bike lanes are necessary. Rather than spend money on dedicated bus lanes reduce the transit fare. When bus fare equals what I pay in fuel and parking for a private car of course people will take their car. Just try it for a while. If there was a dedicated express bus on hwy 97 stopping at terminal in Vernon, YLW, Queensway, and westbank and if that specific route is free I predict many would use it.
Without spending millions of dollars, simply syncing the lights would be a non expensive way to help address the traffic problem. So surprised that no one has thought of this yet??
Do not allow bikes to ride in vehicle traffic lanes. Slows down traffic, cars swerving in other lanes to avoid getting too close to the cyclists. Make all cyclists purchase a license for their bike for damages and liability. Same rights as vehicles equals same responsibility and accountability
You can view past polls here.
