Not so fast, Function Junction drivers.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) has reduced the speed limit in Whistler's southern-most neighbourhood to 40 kilometres an hour, part of recent efforts to improve pedestrian safety.
In February, the municipality held an open house offering a glimpse into plans to build a pedestrian pathway and new crosswalks in Function Junction. The RMOW heard a common refrain at the meeting: the need to reduce speeds.
"We heard very clearly from residents and businesses in Function Junction that there were serious concerns about the speed some vehicles were driving," said Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton in a release. "Many people said they felt unsafe for themselves or when walking with their children. We've responded by creating a pedestrian pathway and lowering the maximum speed."
Work got underway in the spring on a designated pedestrian pathway along Alpha Lake Road through to Millar Creek Road. An additional crosswalk was also added on Millar Road and Alpha Lake Road, and improvements were made to a nearby three-way stop and crosswalk to help increase pedestrians' visibility.
"The safety of residents and visitors is a priority in our community," said Crompton. "I'm asking everyone who travels through Function Junction to consider the safety of others and follow this new speed limit."
Business owners and residents in Function Junction have long been calling for added safety measures, including Harvey Lim, owner of Art Junction.
Though time will tell how effective the new safety measures are, Lim said it's an improvement.
"It seems anything was better than nothing, but it's hard to tell what difference it makes at the moment," he said. "It's more visible, that's for sure, so hopefully that will be good ... (and) the speed limit definitely needed to come down here."
In a perfect world, Lim said the sidewalks would be raised and culverts covered.
"I know they like to stick the snow in the culverts, some of them, so that would mean trucking more snow out of Function," he said. "They're going to have to figure out budgets for that, and if they want to do it it's obviously going to cost a lot more, but like I say, it's definitely a step in the right direction, I think."
The RMOW will take feedback on the new speed limit, with the possibility of rolling out the same 40 km/h limit to other Whistler neighbourhoods in the future.
-with files from Braden Dupuis
