Effective Feb. 17, 2026, speed limits on all streets in Downtown Squamish and the Oceanfront will be reduced to 30 km/h, following ICBC data and public feedback collected in 2023 and 2024. New signage will be installed across both areas to mark the lower-speed zone.
“When we reduce speed, we improve safety, confidence and peace of mind for all road users,” said Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. He added that slower limits will help protect pedestrians, cyclists, micromobility users, and drivers while formalizing how most vehicles already move through the area.
A public survey launched in summer 2024 showed the strongest support for speed reductions in the Downtown and Oceanfront. Those neighbourhoods were also flagged through ICBC data as having higher numbers of reported crashes, with 20 per cent of all locations of concern identified by residents falling within the area now moving to 30 km/h.
Hurford said the change aligns with broader public sentiment across the province. “According to a recent Research Co. survey, 68 per cent of B.C. residents are in favour of a speed limit reduction to 30 km/h on all residential streets,” he said, calling the Downtown and Oceanfront rollout a natural first step toward improving community road safety.
The move also supports the District’s 2025 Transportation Master Plan, which aims to provide safe, sustainable, and reliable transportation options while strengthening neighbourhood connectivity and community vibrancy.
ICBC data shows that 27 per cent of all collisions in Squamish between 2020 and 2024 occurred in the areas now seeing lower speed limits, while speeding has contributed to nearly 30 per cent of traffic-related fatalities in B.C. over the past decade. National safety data also highlights the impact of speed, with a pedestrian struck at 50 km/h facing a 50 per cent chance of severe injury or death — a risk that drops to 30 per cent at 40 km/h and to 15 per cent at 30 km/h.
Won’t make any difference unless there is decent enforcement. As long as there are no obvious consequences or a low probability of being caught, there will be no compliance. This is Hopes and Prayers at best and window dressing at worst.
It won’t matter the local police don’t even control the school zones they’re too busy giving out tickets on the highway
In my opinion, it’s more important to enforce stop signs, because people very often ignore them, just like they ignore pedestrians in downtown areas.