Stephen2018-38

In regards to transit, I know from my work/studies in planning that service drive demand. I believe we should be looking to achieve a 15 min interval on a loop system of interconnecting hubs. Outlying areas, Heflley/Rayleigh/Cambell Creek, should get services at least 3 times daily (early morning, noon, early evening) to allow for most of the work day to be covered. I think smaller buses on community routes that connect to the larger transit corridors should also be more integrated. The last piece is to ensure the walkability of the pick up points is also to maximize utilization. We need to provide the service to create demand. It takes time and effort.

I regards to road maintenance. I think it starts with snow removal and how effective we do it. If there is no snow on the roads, we have more space to drive and less melt water to create a pothole that we have to fix in the summer. We currently do not use a city ordinance that requires the streets be clear of vehicles, boats, RVs, etc and so our city workers have to drive around obstacles. We need to change that. Other cities do it. We also appear to only use city snow plows with belly blades. Best practices for snow clearing are very clear that a front blade with a belly blade are far more efficient and effective at clearing roads ways. Give the city workers the right equipment, training, support and a plan to follow and we will save money in the winter and the summer on road maintenance. I want to know why our city doesn't use front blades on our trucks when every other private contractor does. Argo, VSA, plus many other smaller intracity contractors. They all do and we don't. This need to change.

Lastly on road maintenance, our current system of grinding the top surface of the roadways is flawed. The road bed that is unsupported or ill prepared will constant shift and cause quick degrading of the top. There are some best practices for road repairs we need to do. We can all help ourselves and our city staff by using the MyCity app and locating the problems for our city crews to address them. I encourage more people to use it. I do and the response time is quick and I appreciated the feedback and results.

On traffic flow. Valleyview corridor is getting congested. Improving transit frequency should help, but we also have thru traffic on the highways in our city that are adding to our congestion. I would suggest we push hard for the overpasses at Vicars, Oriole, Highland to start reducing the traffic congestion. Also I would like to see a north Thompson bridge built that links Westsyde with the Hwy 5 Heffley and Rayleigh communities. That bridge would reduce congestion on Westsyde Road, especially heavy vehicle traffic, Logging trucks, from Jameison Creek. It would allow Heffley and Rayleigh to tap into our city sewer and water services plus give them a close place to shop and recreate (Westsyde Pool). The alternate route for traffic would also permit us to possible amalgamate the Rayleigh and Westsyde firehalls and give the communities/highways an alternate route of access in emergencies. Rayleigh also needs an overpass to give them a better access/ a way out when the train blocks the crossing leading to their community.

Lots of work we can do in this area. We just need to have the long term vision, set the goals to achieve and do it.

Thank you for your question. Please get out the vote! Vocal Majority not a vocal minority.