
Citing safety concerns, the City of Kamloops, B.C. has paused a truck route pilot program days after it was implemented.
In early November, the city authorized the removal of Lansdowne Street and Seymour Street truck route designations from Nov. 15 to May 15, 2025.
According to news reports, council voted 7-1 last week to delay the program. The six-month pilot project was aimed at allowing city staff to gain insight into the impacts of the possible removal of truck route designations in the downtown core.

Councilor Bill Sarai, who had recommended the pilot project, noted that the alternative route for commercial vehicles was dangerous during the winter.
“To avoid downtown, trucks come up a large hill, go through some school zones, then down a steep incline and back up again,” he told TruckNews.com. “Let’s not do it in wintertime when it’s the most dangerous.”
Trucking companies’ concerns
Sarai added that trucking companies voiced their concerns about a chain up area and jackknifing risks to equipment.
Councilor Katie Neustaeter said, “I felt we needed to pause the pilot project due to safety, environmental, and timing concerns. A comprehensive city-wide truck route study is being conducted in 2025 to assess the impacts of large trucks and dangerous goods routes throughout the city.
“That study is an ideal opportunity to work with our key stakeholders to examine the findings collaboratively before making any decisions about the pilot project.”
Comprehensive transportation study
Sarai was of the same opinion stating that the comprehensive study would address the issue in a wholesome manner.
Councilor Kelly Hall said he decided to vote to pause the pilot program after listening to downtown businesses and the trucking industry. He also pointed out that the wholesome traffic study coming next year would address the issue.
“Understanding that with a total revitalization of our downtown core, we will eventually have to reroute trucking from our downtown core. It makes more sense from the scope of community safety and a wholesome traffic report coming in 2025, that council reverse their decision on the pilot project,” he told TruckNews.com.
Councilor Nancy Bepple cast the sole dissenting vote. She noted that trucks were already rerouted on Lansdowne Street for the past few months due to construction. “It was a success in the sense that the trucks that normally went through the downtown were able to use the other route,” she said. “But it didn’t really measure the benefits to people who use the area because downtown traffic was very disrupted during the construction.”
Bepple noted that trucks are needed to make local deliveries but would like those just traveling through to use alternative routes. The councilor said the downtown area has been seeing an increasing number of residents who walk and cycle.
“It might be a time to not have heavy trucks in the downtown core. I understand that trucking companies will be impacted, but we have to balance those things with every other aspect of living in the city,” she said.
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