Surrey Slow Streets Pilot Project
Find out how Surrey is slowing down drivers on local roads.
Slower Speeds Save Lives
Travel speeds are the main factor in how serious a crash will be and whether a crash occurs at all. The faster we travel, the less time we have to react to the unexpected. The risk of death and injury increases significantly as travel speeds increase. Research has shown that a pedestrian struck at 30 km/h has a 90% chance of surviving, while at 50 km/h they have only a 15% chance.
Lowering speeds has many benefits:
- Less severe collisions
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduced vehicle noise
- Increased feelings of safety
On June 17, 2021, the City of Surrey launched the Surrey Slow Streets: Residential Speed Limit Reduction Pilot on local roads in six residential neighbourhoods in Surrey. Speed limits are now reduced to 30 km/h in three select neighbourhoods and 40 km/h in three others.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the Surrey Slow Streets pilot project is to study how lower speed limits affect driver behaviour, and ultimately the safety on our roads. We will also compare the impacts that 30 km/h verses 40 km/h speed limits have in neighbourhoods. Following the lowering of speed limits in the pilot project areas, we will monitor vehicle speeds, crashes and perceptions of safety among residents.
Reduce Speed Limits and Location
Reduced speed limits will apply to neighbourhoods in the pilot areas. Major roadways adjacent to the zones will keep their existing speed limits.
Pilot Zone Locations with Reduced Speed Limits to 30KM
-
Blue Zone
The area between 96 & 100 Ave including 100 Avenue from 123A St to 127A St, and between 128 Street to just west of 123A St.
View Blue Zone Map
- Orange Zone
The area between 104 Ave and 108 Ave, and between 128 St and 132 St
View Orange Zone Map
- Red Zone
Approximately the area between Rosemary Heights Crescent and 40 Ave, and between just west of 153 St/152B St and just east of 156B St
View Red Zone Map
Pilot Zone Locations with Reduced Speed Limits to 40KM
- Yellow Zone
The area between 56 Ave (Hwy 10) and 60 Ave, and between 180 St and 184 St
View Yellow Zone Map - Purple Zone
The area between 100 Ave and 104 Ave, and between 140 St and 144 St
View Purple Zone Map - Green Zone
The area between 75 Ave and 80 Ave, and between 120A St and 124 St
View Green Zone Map
Using a data-driven approach, neighbourhoods were selected based on demographics, speeding issues, safety issues, community amenities and equity, to ensure all road users are safe on Surrey roads.
Project Timeline
- Completed
- Started
- Pending
Planning
Implementation
- Baseline Data Collection - May 18 to June 3
- Signage Installation - May 24 to June 18
Slow Streets Launch
Monitoring
Evaluation
Design the Sign Winners
As part of the Surrey Slow Streets pilot, the Streets Neighbourhood - Design the Sign contest was held in March of this year. It was a fun spring break activity open to children 5-18 and their families who live and work in Surrey.
Close to 50 designs were submitted from children and youth across our City. After three rounds of judging, six designs were chosen and have been made into street signs that are now in our six Slow Streets Neighbourhoods.
Congratulations to our winners and thank you too all those that submitted designs!
Contest Winners and their Sign Designs
About the Pilot
Reducing speeds in these neighbourhoods for a specific timeframe will help us understand how reduced speed limits impact neighbourhoods. The pilot will run until December 2022.
Municipalities across Canada are reducing residential speed limits in their community to 30km/h and 40km/h, respectively. Surrey’s pilot is unique in that it will test both speed limits to see which works best for our Surrey community.
We are conducting this pilot project in response to residents’ concerns about safety on Surrey roads and in their neighbourhoods. This is a starting point to determine the differences that lower speed limits can make on our roads, taking into consideration Surrey’s unique characteristics and needs.
For more information about the pilot, see the December 2020 Corporate Report.
Connection to Vision Zero Surrey
Managing speeds is an important part of the Vision Zero Surrey Safe Mobility Plan. Vision Zero Surrey is based on the Safe Systems Approach which focuses on speed within its Safe Speeds pillar. The Surrey Slow Streets speed limit reduction pilot project is a key step that directly supports Safe Speeds and works to save lives on Surrey roads.
Contact
If you have specific questions about the Surrey Slow Streets pilot project, please email visionzero@surrey.ca.