Fort St. John resident advocating for lower speed limit on Alaska Highway through town

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John resident Jeremy Palo has recently explored potential ways to advocate for the lowering of the speed limit on the Alaska Highway through town. 

Jeremy Palo has been a resident of Fort St. John for almost 20 years. Palo said he has recently spoken with Fort St. John City Councillor Trevor Bolin and Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy about the idea of lowering the speed limit on the Alaska Highway through town.

Palo explained one of the concerns that led him to propose lowering the speed limit on the highway through town. 

“I use a mobility scooter from time to time just for getting around,” he said. “Commuting across the highway with the scooter when big trucks are doing 70 [kilometres an hour], especially if it’s wet, it gets pretty intense.” 

Fort St. John RCMP said officers were called to a multiple-vehicle collision at the 100th Street and Highway 97 intersection at 3:29 p.m. on June 24th.

Five people were taken to the hospital, including one in critical condition, following the collision.

Multiple units from the RCMP, along with the BC Conservation Officer Service, assisted in controlling traffic, while members of the BC Emergency Health Service and the Fort St. John Fire Department provided treatment and transported multiple victims. 

Two GoFundMe campaigns have since been launched to support the victims of the crash. 

Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy spoke on the accident.

“My heart goes out to the families of the people that were involved in that accident and the ones that are in hospital. It’s a horrific incident,” he said.

“I’ve had quite a few people reach out to my office in regards to different possibilities, but the biggest thing is to let the investigation take place and figure out what the direct cause was,” Kealy said. 

Kealy said if speed is a factor, the issue lies with the driver of the vehicle.

“If [speed] isn’t a factor, then there’d have to be an investigation as to what directly happened in the intersection.” 

In an email sent to the City of Fort St. John, Palo wrote, “I am writing to respectfully request that the city advocate for reducing the speed limit on the Alaska Highway within the Fort St. John city limits from 70 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour.

“As our community continues to grow, there is increasing vehicle traffic, pedestrian activity and development along this corridor,” the email said.

According to Palo, a lower speed limit would improve the safety of residents, visitors, cyclists, and pedestrians. 

Fort St. John City Councillor Trevor Bolin said the topic of lowering the speed limit on the Alaska Highway has been discussed before.

“I think as the community grows and changes, if that’s a concern of residents, that’s certainly something that council can bring to the Ministry of Transportation in our meetings with them,” Bolin said. 

According to Bolin, of the areas he’s travelled in, Fort St. John and Taylor are the only cities in the entire province where the speed limits on the highway through the municipalities are 70 kilometres per hour. 

Bolin explained that the best way for residents to raise concerns about this issue is to contact MLA Jordan Kealy or the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MOTT) directly.

Bolin also said that, despite not controlling the speed limit, the council always listens to what residents have to say. 

“If we can avoid one accident by adjusting [the speed limit] when somebody’s crossing there, then it’s probably worth it to slow it down.”

According to Palo, Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen said council will discuss the points he raised and add them to their voices as they meet with provincial ministers and local MOTT staff. 

Energeticcity.ca reached out to the Ministry of Transportation and Transit, but did not hear back in time for publication.