August 8
Sixteen joined this ASK Salt Spring gathering welcoming Andrew Gaetz, Emcon (our roads maintenance contractor) Operations Manager, and Owen Page, Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) Area Manager.
Owen’s MoTT responsibility includes Salt Spring and Saturna Islands as well as the entire CRD region from Point Renfrew south. Working closely with Emcon, his responsibilities include overseeing operations and maintenance of the provincial roads in his area. While in the information loop, large projects, like Ganges Hill, are managed by other departments.
Emcon’s Andrew has a huge span of responsibility on Vancouver Island from Chemainus south and all the Gulf Islands. Despite this large area, participants heard Andrew repeatedly illustrate his efforts to listen to Salt Springers and do what he can to better maintain our roads. He and his crew do everything they can within their time and financial constraints to address our hundreds of kilometers of roads.
After our Acknowledgement and a brief chance for participants to introduce themselves, we learned that Owen had recently chosen Salt Spring for his family holiday, including his nine-month old baby girl.
We then dove into road issues as most who joined us had a particular interest or concern they wanted to share. We began by discussing speed limits on Salt Spring. Owen noted that municipalities province-wide are lowering speed limits in response to the clear evidence that slower speed limits are safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. While the province currently maintains its minimum 50kmh speed limit, it may update its policies to follow this municipal trend to lower speed limits.
Many of us were surprised to learn that provincial regulations set a speed limit of 80 kmh for unmarked roads, with the lowest speed limit (except the 30 kmh at parks and elementary schools) at 50kmh. How did we get our Ganges 30kmh speed limit? This reduction is a very unusual exception to the rule, the result of many requests by Salt Springers, the former CRD Transportation Commission, and the LCC as well as the determined political advocacy of former MLA Adam Olsen.
So, how hard can it be to change a speed limit? Isn’t it only a matter of placing different speed signs. No: The process is actually quite complicated, each change requiring an engineering study.
Does this mean Salt Spring will never get further reduced speed limits? Not necessarily: A number of requests for reduced speed limits are either in the queue for an engineering study or on the list for a future study.
So, what areas are under consideration?
- Ganges Core: Owen’s position is that the 30kmh limit on Fulford-Ganges/Lower Ganges Roads through
- North End Road near the beach at St Mary Lake: Although this decision is still in the hands of the engineers, Owen says that this reduction is currently being reviewed.
- Fulford-Ganges Road between Ganges and Fulford: Many believe that the condition of the road does not warrant a 80kmh speed limit. This intuitive conclusion was validated in the Salt Spring Island Cycling Safety Study (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/driving-and-transportation/reports-and-reference/reports-and-studies/vancouver-island-south-coast/2023-04-21_salt_spring_island_cycling_safety_review.pdf). While specific speed limit reductions were not identified, this study recommended an analysis of these limits. It also noted that many vehicles do not drive as fast as the limit allows, likely due to the condition of this road. While an analysis of this stretch of road is in the sights of MoTT, it is far from the top of the list.
- Lower Ganges Road past Country Grocer: As soon as the 30kmh Ganges speed limit was announced, many were deeply disappointed that it did not extend further to include Country Grocer. Reasons it should be reduced included heavy cycling, pedestrian, and vehicular traffic as well as the high density of senior housing communities along the route. It is likely that this area is not yet in the queue for an engineering study. As not all agree that the limit should be set at 30kmh, the logical next step seems to be a Local Community Commission (LCC) discussion and recommendation. When a participant asked about a compromise 40kmh limit, Owen responded that this limit was not generally utilized in these situations. Stay tuned.
A participant asked why BC does not have a 30kmh Senior Zone like the UK? While this would require a legislative change far beyond the scope of Owen’s responsibility, he was glad that our BC Seniors Advocate, Dan Levitt, was interested advocacy for this change. (For more information about Dan’s recent visit to ASK Salt Spring, see: https://asksaltspring.com/2025/07/25/we-can-do-better-for-our-seniors/_.
A participant expressed frustration that the line between private property and the MoTT right of way is often very hard to identify. This individual thought he was making things safer when, in fact, he had encroached on the road right of way. The message was clear. . . Owen (Owen.Page@gov.bc.ca) and Andrew (agaetz@emconservices.ca) are very available for questions and conversations. When in doubt, check with them before doing anything near our roads.
A long-time Info (formerly Visitors) Centre volunteer spoke about the importance of repainting the red curb for buses outside the Centre. As it has already been painted red and refreshing the exiting demarkation is all that is needed, it was concluded that CRD staff could repaint this area without further permission.
Later in our conversation, discussion about designation of the bike lanes along Ganges Hill had a slightly different response: Technically, this area is designated as very wide shoulders and will be painted as such. Our guests were asked how we could get bike icons painted along this bike-friendly route when it is completed. Not within the scope of MoTT, Owen suggested the LCC apply for a permit to paint cycling symbols along the route.
And, yes, line painting is finished for this year. Anything missed (like the odd double line gap along the short stretch of Vesuvius Bay Road) will need to wait until next year. Even though the more environmentally-friendly-water-based paint does not last as long as the former oil-based paint, there is simply not enough money in the budget to paint all lines on Salt Spring each year. While major roads, especially those leading to ferry terminals, are painted each year, if your road got a bright new centre line this year, it is unlikely to get one next year. And, to add an extra complication, many of our roads are too narrow to even qualify for a centre line.
(Want to learn more about BC’s efforts to paint brighter, more durable safety lines? https://www.tranbc.ca/2020/07/23/the-evolving-story-of-brighter-more-durable-line-painting/).
We did, however, get some good news on the Ganges Hill centerline. This area will be micro-grooved to allow paint be placed slightly below the surface (https://www.guidemarkinc.com/recessed-pavement-markings/). Requiring asphalt in excellent condition, the Ganges Hill project is the perfect location for this long-lasting centerline painting option.
A participant asked about reflective road studs, commonly called cat’s eyes (https://www.wistronchina.com/what-is-the-difference-between-cat-eyes-and-road-studs/). While a seemingly simple solution for long lasting safety markings, they bring challenges. Surface-mounted ones are cheap and simple to install, but they get dislodged the first time a snow plow is deployed. The embedded ones require a machine from Vancouver to install them and, unfortunately, when they are embedded on old asphalt roads – like so many of our roads – the result is more and more potholes each time the surface is penetrated.
Fog lines, the ones on the right marking the edge of the road and keep you out of ditches, are even more complicated as edges of our roads are often crumbling and unpaintable.
The difficulty of getting the constantly renewed road safety painting on all of our roads seems overwhelming. A compromise solution that is gaining popularity locally is the installation of flexible roadside reflectors. These long-lasting roadside markers also have the support of MoTT managers, with a commitment to add significantly more on Salt Spring over the next few years. Although MoTT will select the location of these reflectors, many have been offering suggestions about the location of these reflectors. If you want to add your two cents, send your suggestion to ask@asksaltspring.com by August 22.
A participant asked about a flashing emergency light at our new firehall to alert pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles when emergency vehicles enter the road. While the initial response appears to be “No,” it seemed to some that the only prudent and safe answer should be “Yes.”
Owen was asked about our crosswalks. We learned that ICBC, MoTT, and the LCC are collaborating to address our Ganges crosswalks. A consultant is analyzing the effectiveness and placement of the current ones as well as considering the addition of several more crosswalks.
Would you like to give your input? You are invited to an in-person workshop Wednesday, September 17, 3-6, at SIMS, the former Middle School, to offer your suggestions concerning our crosswalks. If you prefer to offer your input online, visit: https://getinvolved.crd.bc.ca/ganges-crosswalks and use the comment form on this webpage to share your experiences, concerns, and suggestions about our Ganges crosswalks.
When this analysis is completed, designs to improve/add crosswalks will be produced. If these recommendations are approved by MoTT, it is anticipated that ICBC will also take an important role funding the construction these crosswalk enhancements.
A resident of Drake Road expressed concern about the extra drainage created by the nearly-completed BC Housing Drake Road Supportive Housing (https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/salt-spring-island-supportive-housing). Already an extremely wet area, this resident was deeply concerned about storm water damage to his property. We learned that BC Housing invoked its “power of primacy” for this project, allowing it to move forward without some of the time-consuming processes required for most projects, like zoning applications and MoTT consultation. A result of this streamlining was that MoTT was not included in drainage decisions.
While it may have been better had this consultation been done earlier, Owen is committed to making sure that the remarkably complex drainage issues are addressed so that nearby properties are not damaged. So committed to finding a solution, he visited the site just after our gathering, resulting in this participant’s optimistic “Thank you!” to ASK Salt Spring for helping to facilitate solutions ):.
We learned from Andrew that Salt Spring has more in-progress road projects than any other area in southern Vancouver Island and the islands. Most of us know about Ganges Hill (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/salt-spring-island-projects/fulford-ganges-road-improvements)
and many are aware of the Cusheon Lake project, often called Blackburn Bridge (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/salt-spring-island-projects/cusheon-creek-bridge).
Most do not know that there are many, many other projects either completed, in progress, or planned for the near future. These include:
- The welcome repaving of most of Atkins Road as Emcon’s annual road paving project.
- Extensive drainage improvement work on Mt. Maxwell Road was also just completed, requiring over 300 truckloads of gravel to address longtime stormwater erosion issues.
- There is also excitement about approval of a design of the new bridge over Fulford and Soule Creeks approved as a result of cooperation among key players including Islands Trust, CRD, MoTT, BC Hydro, BC Transit, and Island Pathways. As a result, the creek and estuary will be restored with an expected increase in eelgrass, salmon, and forage fish.
- We also learned a bit about Emcon’s work with Transition Salt Spring’s (TSS) CARL project (https://transitionsaltspring.com/research/). This multi-agency collaboration, including North Salt Spring Waterworks District, is committed to restoring our forests and watersheds, beginning with the Hwmet’utsun (Mt. Maxwell) Creek Watershed, a vital water source for thousands of islanders. Andrew had enthusiastic praise for the tenacity, determination, and backbreaking work of TSS’s Dr. Ruth Waldick and her team.
As our time together was nearly over, a participant asked whether the oily substance sprayed over our gravel roads was harmful for our environment. We learned that it is a natural product composed mostly of water and Saskatchewan-mined calcium chloride. Used the keep dust down, it can also be used to de-ice roads.
And, speaking of snow, as we prepared to leave, a participant asked Andrew whether it was wise to get all neighbours to park on only one side of the road as a snowstorm threatens. “Please don’t,” responded Andrew. Our snowplows have wide blades. If you want your roads plowed quickly, leave your cars in your driveway and please, please stay home! With major roads plowed first, even minor roads should be plowed in three days. If your road has not been plowed in three days, feel free to call the Hazard Line (866-353-3136). Please, though, do not call this line as the snow begins to tell them it is snowing. Guaranteed. . . they know and are already working hard!
On that light note, we bid a grateful “farewell” to Owen and Andrew with their promise to come back again next season. We left appreciative of their interest in listening to all of our concerns, honesty about issues they can address and what is beyond their scope, ever-present notepad to document needed follow up on pressing issues, and their calm “can do” attitude in the face of emotion-charged concerns. (Thank-you, Owen and Andrew!)
Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring, currently also a Salt Spring Local Community Commissioner. It has been reviewed and edited by Andrew and Owen.