With public backlash that has occurred in Vancouver for its implementation of traffic calming measures in various neighbourhoods in that city, will Burnaby Council have the courage to bring such "radical" thinking to action?
The question arises; should we build infrastructure first before increasing density, or should the infrastructure improvements be part of the densification process as it occurs? In many neighbourhoods it is obvious that traffic-controlling infrastructure development has been overlooked for a long time.
Garth Evans suggests building infrastructure prior to densification in expectation of more vehicle related problems.
"Infrastructure construction is not keeping pace with new development with result that our road network is becoming more and more congested and we are facing future gridlock. Our tax dollars must be used to construct the required infrastructure before future high density development is permitted."
Full article below:
Traffic calming needed for Burnaby neighbourhoods: Evans
Like just about every city in the Lower Mainland, Burnaby has its share of rat-running traffic through neighbourhoods and occasional rush-hour gridlock.
The NewsLeader asked two candidates: What are the traffic and transportation issues in Burnaby and what should the city do about them?
Garth Evans, Team Burnaby, is a lawyer specializing in social housing. He served as city councillor from 2005 to 2009.
"Traffic problems are a major concern in many Burnaby neighborhoods including Burnaby Heights where I live. Many of my neighbors have complained to me about the commuter traffic passing through our neighborhood. When I was a city councillor and sat on the Traffic Committee I frequently raised this issue and as a result the City held a public consultation process and produced an area traffic study. So far nothing has happened. What is required is a traffic control system like those in many Vancouver neighborhoods to prevent commuter traffic from using our residential streets. This would involve roundabouts and street barriers designed to direct the traffic back onto Hastings, Willingdon and Boundary. Similar action is required in many other neighborhoods and a TEAM council will act quickly to implement such a program.
"Infrastructure construction is not keeping pace with new development with result that our road network is becoming more and more congested and we are facing future gridlock. Our tax dollars must be used to construct the required infrastructure before future high density development is permitted."
Incumbent Coun. Nick Volkow is a retired truck driver and chair of the city's transportation committee.
"Our problem is we're smack dab in the middle of Metro Vancouver. So our problem is everybody from east of Burnaby is heading into Vancouver. Our problem is trying to try to mitigate the flow of traffic from the Tri-Cities, Surrey, and with the new expansion of the Port Mann Bridge and the freeway, it's not going to make it any easier."
Burnaby city hall will be reviewing its transportation plan, said Volkow, noting it's been at least 15 years since the last review.
"We've just done the Heights traffic plan, bringing in some traffic calming measures–roundabouts, curb bulges and synchronizing the lights along Hastings Street. We do the best we can with what we have."
He noted the city just won an award for a system which allows the drivers of all Burnaby emergency response vehicles to control any signalled intersection in the city to help them get to calls as soon as possible.
"We're in a great location. But too, comes with that the responsibility of allowing folks that are going through Burnaby try to get there without impinging on our residential neighbourhoods. It's an ongoing struggle. I think I'd be lying to you if I said we've got the magic bullet and the solution for it."
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
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