This week, Langford council adopted a new, modernized Streets and Traffic Bylaw as a way to update how people move through the city.
According to the City, this bylaw brought together some policies and replaced several older regulations to plan ahead and support Langford’s goals for sustainable growth.
The new bylaw has now replaced its predecessor, which was adopted in 1995 and amended more than two dozen times over the past 30 years.
After so many amendments, City staff determined that a full repeal and replacement was the most effective way to create a clear, modern and easy‑to‑use regulatory framework.
One notable change included in the new bylaw is that Happy Valley Road and Latoria Road are no longer designated as dangerous goods routes.
“This safety‑focused measure has been approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and is now in effect, helping to reduce risk and improve safety for residents and elementary school students along these important community corridors,” wrote the City of Langford in a media release.
Additionally, Langford will be introducing a new, streamlined system of permits and licences to better regulate activities that take place on city streets.
These new permits and licences are meant to be more user-friendly for those applying for them.
Some new permits include those for special events, oversized vehicles, patios, street use, and street construction, while new licences include crane swing, shoring works, and street occupancy licences.
On top of the new permits and licences, the new bylaw was also designed to modernize parking and traffic regulations throughout Langford.
“These updates include clearer rules for oversized and commercial vehicle parking, strengthened safety measures near intersections and crosswalks, and improved tools to manage temporary no‑parking zones during construction and special events,” wrote the City.
They added it will introduce clearer regulations for micromobility devices, aimed at supporting safer use of streets for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
