Friendly Streets

April 25, 2024: KVR students help City roll out new initiative to make streets brighter and safer

Aug. 24, 2023: New traffic safety measures being added to Lawrence Avenue near Columbia Elementary 

May 29, 2023: City launches pilot project to create safer routes to schools

On May 3, 2024, a group of KVR Middle students will paint a section of Jermyn Street next to the crosswalk that connects to Penticton High School.

The City recently installed a new raised crosswalk and curb bulbouts at this location, designed to slow vehicles through the school zone. This project was prompted as a result of requests from the schools, and received grant funding from both the ICBC Road Improvement Program and Vision Zero. 

As a next step, the KVR students will paint the street next to the crosswalk. Not only does this add vibrancy to the street, but the bright colours improve visibility of pedestrians, improving traffic safety. 

In order to safely conduct the painting, Jermyn Avenue will be temporarily closed to traffic on Friday, May 3, starting after the school dropoff and before pickup (between 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.).
 

Read the City announcement

On Saturday, June 1, community members are invited to take part in a street-painting project at the intersection of Ellis and Nanaimo in downtown Penticton. The City is working with a team of artists and volunteers who are overseeing this work, with more details to be released soon.

Ellis Street is a high-traffic area located on the outer edge of the downtown core. Due to its location next to the Penticton Creek trails, shops, breweries and residential homes, plus the weekend markets during summer, it's also a busy area for both residents and visitors on foot. 

The purpose of this project is to make the intersection of Ellis and Nanaimo safer for pedestrians by making it easier for them to cross. Rather than install plastic bollards, the City will install planters and is calling on the community to add a splash of colour to the intersection. 

We will be hosting this event on Saturday, June 1, and inviting the public to “make their mark” on the city street. 
 

Watch for more details coming soon! 

The City launched the Safe Routes to School pilot project in May 2023 in partnership with Carmi and Uplands Elementary schools. These two plans are now complete, with the results to be revealed soon. 

City staff and consultants conducted site visits at both schools, meeting with parents, students, educators and PAC groups to examine well-used routes and brainstorm opportunities to increase active travel to and from school. 

Next, the City will create plans for Columbia Elementary, and given the recently adopted School District changes, will work on a plan that will support relocating families from Parkway (and the broader revised catchment area) to attend the future Skaha Elementary.  

This project aligns with goals identified in the Transportation Master Plan and the Climate Action Plan, both of which support active transportation as a means to reach the City’s climate goals.

Stay tuned for updates, coming soon! 
 

Street art and murals are growing in popularity around the world, due to the fact that they add vibrancy to a street, while also proving effective to slow vehicles in the area.

A recent study found that city streets are 50% safer for pedestrians after incorporating art into roadway designs. Brightly coloured streets improve safety by increasing visibility of pedestrian spaces at crosswalks. 

Read the study
 

If you would like to request a crosswalk, sidewalk or traffic calming in your neighbourhood, please fill out the online form on our Traffic Safety webpage. 

If you would like to report a non-emergency issue, concern or suggestion, such as involving potholes or roadside issues, you can fill out our Report an Issue online form. 

For urgent questions involving traffic and transportation safety, contact the Engineering department at 250-490-2521 or email engineering@penticton.ca. And for urgent matters involving road maintenance concerns, such as potholes, contact the Public Works department at 250-490-2500 or publicworks@penticton.ca. 

The City’s ‘Friendly Streets’ initiative supports the City’s goals of encouraging active transportation and focusing on our Community Climate Action Plan, with a goal of reducing emissions by a projected 40 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030. 

Active transportation refers to walking, biking, scootering or getting around by other forms of human activity. While there will always be a place for vehicles, the benefits to active transportation include: 

• Save money on fuel, parking, insurance and servicing costs.
• It’s an active and planet-friendly way to get around.
• Add more activity into your day, improving your fitness and mental wellbeing.

It also supports the following Council priorities: 

• Safe and Resilient community, to enhance and protect the safety of all residents and visitors to Penticton. 
• Livable and Accessible
• Vibrant and Connected

This graphic lays out the most common modes of transportation (Census Canada 2021).