West Kelowna roads should be for local truckers only: city staff recommends

Only those truckers doing business in West Kelowna should be able to use municipal streets, city staff say.

The operators of all other heavy commercial vehicles would be fined if they veer off Highway 97 to take a short-cut through West Kelowna.

In the face of strong public opposition, city staff have ditched efforts to establish a formal truck route across West Kelowna.

Residents along some streets, particularly Boucherie Road, were concerned about a possible increase in truck traffic.

“The public was concerned that by labelling a road a truck route, it would encourage trucks to use West Kelowna’s road network as an alternative to Highway 97,” reads part of a staff report that went to council on Tuesday.

Instead, the new proposal is to allow all trucks along Highway 97.

But vehicles weighing more than 13,700 kg would only be allowed on other streets if the driver is “conducting business” in West Kelowna, staff suggest.

“Trucks are required to take the most direct route using the highest order roads (ie. arterial roads, then collector roads, then minor collector roads, then local roads),” staff say.

“This will reduce shortcutting, which has been identified as a problem by residents.”

Bylaw officers would be tasked with determining if, for example, the driver of a gravel truck, dump truck, or tractortrailer, was legitimately using a West Kelowna street to conduct business in the municipality, or simply short-cutting to another destination.

“The proposed revision satisfies the public’s primary concern, while allowing business conducted within the city,” staff say.

“It removes identification of a truck route, which may encourage truck traffic to take West Kelowna’s road network, when a more direct route is often available, Highway 97,” staff say.