New Vehicle Route Impractical

By Paul Russell
Published: June 30, 2012

First I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak on an issue that is fundamental to the long term development of our city.

I have read the UMBC Land Use Study several times and although I agree with the overall direction, I take issue with the recommendation that a new vehicular route be established paralleling Scott Crescent for outgoing Vancouver and incoming Whistler traffic.

This recommendation does not address the problem of routing much greater traffic through the Hospital Hill neighborhood, cuts off several home owners road access to and from their property and further destroys the only remaining green buffer between Highway 99 and the homes on Hospital Hill.

I believe the solution is a visually pleasing vehicular (pedestrian) bridge across the UMBC from the current industrial area to the north end of the Hostel. 

A bridge at this location has the shortest crossing distance, connects directly to a public access road and has the least impact on Rose Garden.

Bridge access will:

1.    Provide direct access for all traffic to and from the Kingsway development and associated properties to Highway 99

2    Provide trail linkage to the Smoke Buffs, Hospital Hill and Valley Cliff

3.   Eliminate the dangerous intersection of Scott Crescent with Highway 99 since all traffic in and out from the properties would be routed directly out at the junction of Loggers Lane and Highway 99.
 
4.    Provide connectivity between the private properties and the Downtown core.

5.  Serves as an easy access to any commercial enterprises in the properties

I realize that the bridge solution costs more than paralleling Scott Crescent, but the number units approved for development could be used to offset the costs.

I therefore recommend that council not endorse this study at this time, but call for a comprehensive  traffic study that includes the bridge solution