Friendly Streets

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 was to make the intersection of Ellis and Nanaimo safer for pedestrians. Rather than costly concrete infrastructure upgrades, the City will install planters and use decorative elements, and called on the community to add a splash of colour to the intersection. 

👏 Thank you to the team of volunteers, led by Robin Robertson and artists from the South Okanagan.  It's part of our new Friendly Streets initiative to make our streets more vibrant, colourful and safer. 

Read the announcement 

On May 3, 2024, a group of KVR Middle students painted a section of Jermyn Street next to the crosswalk that connects to Penticton High School. Thank you to all the teachers and students who took part! 

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 painted 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. 

May 28, 2024: Join us for community street-painting project in downtown Penticton

May 22, 2024: City takes steps to improve safety around schools and playgrounds

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

The purpose of the Safe Routes to School program is to create a safe environment for students to walk, wheel and roll to school. This process involves working in collaboration with the entire school community to identify ways to make active travel safer and easier. 

We launched this initiative in 2023 in partnership with Carmi and Uplands Elementary schools. Next up: Columbia and Skaha Elementary schools. 

Visit our Safe Routes to School webpage

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 Friendly Streets initiative brings people together to help build safer and friendlier spaces for everyone to move, play and grow. It also 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).