30km/h speed limits coming to Downtown Squamish and Oceanfront area
Effective February 17, 2026, speed limits on all streets in the Downtown Squamish and Oceanfront area will be reduced to 30 km/h. This change is being implemented in response to ICBC data and public feedback gathered during 2023 and 2024 to gauge community input on road safety and traffic speeds. Signs will be posted throughout Downtown and the Oceanfront to reflect the new 30 km/h zone.
“When we reduce speed, we improve safety, confidence and peace of mind for all road users,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “As a community, we have a shared responsibility to make our roads safe for pedestrians, cyclists, micro mobility users and drivers. A posted lower speed limit will help to formalize what is already happening within the vast majority of Downtown and the Oceanfront, and improve safety for all.”
Responses to a public survey launched in summer 2024 indicated that support for speed limit reductions was highest for the Downtown/Oceanfront area. The Downtown/Oceanfront area was also identified through ICBC data as a location with a higher number of reported accidents. 20% of the total locations of concern from the public survey identified are within this area, therefore representing an opportunity to improve safety by lowering posted speeds.
“According to a recent Research Co. survey, 68% of B.C. residents are in favour of a speed limit reduction to 30 km/h on all residential streets so this, in addition to our own findings, demonstrates broad public support for lowered speed limits,” continues Hurford. “A speed reduction in the Downtown Squamish/Oceanfront area is a natural first step in increasing community road safety overall.”
The District’s 2025 Transportation Master Plan envisions a Squamish in which everyone has access to safe, sustainable, affordable and reliable transportation options that contribute to community vibrancy and quality of life. The Plan identifies speed limit reduction as a means to improve safety and support broader outcomes, such as sustainable transportation options, and increased neighbourhood connectivity.
Fast Facts:
- ICBC data shows that 27% of collisions in Squamish between 2020 and 2024 occurred within the areas where the speed limit is being reduced.
- ICBC statistics show that speeding has contributed to nearly 30% of traffic-related fatalities in B.C. over the past decade.
- Data from a National Association of City Transportation Officials report shows that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 50 kilometres per hour has a 50% chance of severe injury or death, at 40 kilometres per hour that number drops to 30%, and at 30 kilometres per hour it drops to 15%.
To learn more, visit squamish.ca/slowdown-downtown.
February 5, 2026