What Squamish Wants › More info

Keep the new crosswalk and wider multi use lane on Highlands Way North

The background, so you can decide for yourself. Facts checked October 26, 2026.

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Highlands Way North runs through the Garibaldi Highlands past a school. Residents raised concerns about speeding, especially in the school zone.

The District of Squamish put the stretch between Portree Way and Greenwood Way on its list of top traffic calming priorities for 2026.

The District says the changes were made in August 2026. The multi use lane was widened, a buffer was added between it and the travel lane, and the centre line was removed to make the road feel narrower while keeping two way traffic. A new crosswalk went in south of Pentland Way for safer trail access, and a bus stop was moved slightly south.

Because the work is already done, this question is really about whether residents support keeping these changes (as of October 2026).

Key facts

Section
Highlands Way North, Portree Way to Greenwood Way1
Concern
Speeding, especially in the school zone1
Status
Built in August 20261
What changed
Wider multi use lane with a buffer, no centre line, new crosswalk south of Pentland Way, bus stop moved slightly south1
Road type
Local road, eligible under the District's Traffic Calming Policy3

Where it stands

It has happened. We keep it on the list so you can see how people felt about it.

Who decides: Squamish council.

The case for each answer

The strongest honest case for each side, as people who hold it would put it.

Yes

  • A narrower looking road tends to slow drivers, which matters most near a school.
  • The wider lane and buffer give people walking and cycling more room, and the new crosswalk gives a safer way to reach the trail.

No

  • Some drivers feel the changes slow a main route in and out of the Highlands.
  • Removing the centre line can feel less clear to some drivers, and some would prefer a different fix, such as enforcement.

How we got here

  1. October 2021The District planned three speed tables on Highlands Way North between The Boulevard and Portree Way. In a survey, 45% supported speed tables.4
  2. March 2025Council endorsed a new Traffic Calming Policy for Squamish.2
  3. May 1, 2025A traffic calming request was logged for Highlands Way North, Portree Way to Pentland Way.3
  4. December 2025The stretch appeared on the District's list of eligible traffic calming locations.3
  5. August 2026The changes were installed.1

Questions people ask

Is this still a plan or already done?

Done. The District says the changes were implemented in August 2026.1

Is this a bike lane?

The District calls it a multi use lane, so it is shared by people walking and cycling. It was widened and given a buffer from traffic.1

How does the District choose streets for traffic calming?

It looks at resident requests, then checks speed, traffic volume, collision history, the road type and emergency access. Eligible streets are ranked and the top ones are costed each year.2

More background

Sources

  1. District of Squamish: 2026 Traffic Calming Measures
  2. District of Squamish: Traffic Calming
  3. District of Squamish: Traffic calming requests and priorities (list as of October 31, 2025)
  4. Squamish Reporter: District plans to add speed tables on Highlands Way North (October 21, 2021)

Spot something wrong or out of date? Email squamishvoters@gmail.com.