By ROY WOOD

Despite a staff recommendation to the contrary, Oliver council decided Monday to make the intersection of Fairview Road, Spartan Street and Similkameen Avenue a four-way stop.

The idea is that having stop signs on all four points of the intersection would be a cost-efficient method of providing “traffic calming” along Fairway. Council asked staff two weeks ago to prepare an estimate of the costs of such a strategy.

In his report back to council, operations director Shawn Goodsell said the cost would be about $1,100. He also pointed out that neither the provincial transport ministry nor ICBC consider four-way stops to be appropriate traffic-calming strategies.

According to the report, they are not used to slow traffic because:

• When one street is busier than the other, people tend to ignore the stop signs over time;
• For most of the year, school-zone speeds are already in effect;
• Pedestrian traffic is busier only twice a day for limited times; and
• Stopping and starting causes noise pollution for nearby properties.

Mayor Ron Hovanes told the council committee meeting that he has been hearing for years from residents who want some action from the town to slow traffic on Fairview.

Goodsell’s report suggested “the item be brought forward at a (public) Open House to be undertaken at the end of June to receive additional community input.

“Having this additional community input … before making changes to this intersection would ensure the town is undertaking changes that are supported by the residents and in manner that is fiscally responsible.”

Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger supported the idea: “I think we should bite the bullet and go ahead with it.”

Adding her voice in favour, Councillor Mo Doerr described traffic on Fairview as “a gong show.”

Council approved going ahead with the project and to have the stop signs in place by the beginning of September.