Kelowna council to debate higher fees, fines for road-use permits
Kelowna construction site (Image Credit: Vernon Matters Staff)
City council is set to consider a series of increases to fees and fines tied to construction and other activity that impacts public roads.
A report going to council Monday recommends changes to the Road Use Permit program, which regulates everything from road closures and traffic disruptions to temporary construction fencing and utility work.
City staff say the program has not kept pace with rising construction activity and note more issues in recent years involving work done without permits, poor traffic control, and delays in restoring roadways.
Under the proposed changes, fines for violations such as working without a permit or blocking traffic could rise from $100 to $600.
Permit fees would also increase, including a doubling of daily costs for road closures on arterial routes, which would go from $25 to $50 per day. Other traffic disruption permits would also see rate increases depending on road type and duration.
City staff say the goal is to better recover costs, improve compliance and encourage contractors to complete work more efficiently, reducing overall disruption for drivers and residents.