Skip to content

RDN to ask for a speed limit review

Chairman Joe Stanhope adamantly opposed to lowering speed limit

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) will receive a letter from the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) asking it to undertake a review of the speed limit between the orange bridge in Parksville and Rathtrevor Park.

The motion passed at last Tuesday’s RDN meeting, however, RDN chair and director of Area G, Joe Stanhope, said he could not support it because the road was designed as an 80 km highway. That stretch of road is currently set at 60 km/hr.

The RDN does not regulate speed limits but the RDN has the option to submit a formal request to the MOTI asking it to determine whether lowering the speed limit in this area would be appropriate. 

Stanhope said he didn’t think it was up to the board to make any kind of recommendation like this.

Director of Area B (Gabriola, De Courcy and Mudge Islands) Gisele Rudischer said all they are asking was for a review. 

Acting Mayor of Parksville Chris Burger said the amount of traffic in front of Rathtrevor Park is worrisome, and the intersection is awkward. He said Parksville feels it’s warranted to at least ask the question.

Parksville councillor Marc Lefebvre had asked RDN staff to look into the idea of lowering the speed limit in this section previously so Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) would be able to travel throughout Parksville.