A controversial bypass is still on the books in the City of Vernon and that reality is getting a rough ride. The Western Corridor Impact Assessment Committee is upset council endorsed the draft transportation plan Monday. It includes a long-term strategy to protect the corridor for the bypass which would go through Mission Hill, Okanagan Landing and Bella Vista. “It’s business as usual,” said Jane Weixl, a committee member, of the city’s previous attempts to promote the bypass. Weixl is upset that the corridor seems to encourage development. “I’d like to see it serve the general public and the environment and not development,” she said, adding that businesses will pop up along the route to service motorists. The committee is concerned the bypass would negatively disrupt existing neighbourhoods, hurt the environment and be costly to acquire the land, construct and maintain. Weixl also accuses the city of downplaying other options so traffic can move through the community.
“This report does not give the public any information about the alternatives to the bypass,” she said. City staff recommend that the protection of the bypass occur beyond a 25-year period, although they caution there is no guarantee that construction would proceed. The positive factors to the route, according to staff, is improving access to the airport and the lake and getting highway traffic out of the downtown core. “It would be a four-lane freeway with five interchanges,” said Lorne Holowachuk, senior transportation engineer. Other transportation options were considered, but rejected by staff. “The western route is the most suitable long-term option in that it minimizes community severance, satisfies mobility and safety concerns, is supported by the land use plan as it connects identified neighbourhood centres and provides opportunities to mitigate adverse impacts due to noise and environmental impacts better than the other alignments,” said a written report from staff.
The western bypass could cost $565 to $635 million to build, and that could pose a challenge. “I don’t see the province picking up the tab for that,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. Mayor Wayne Lippert is hesitant to support the western bypass. “I believe the best option may be no bypass and to get people out of their vehicles,” he said of alternate transportation such as transit, biking and walking trails. The draft transportation plan also recommends that 27th Street be extended through Polson Park to Highway 97 over a 10 to 25-year period. “It will improve city centre traffic circulation,” said Holowachuk of getting some traffic off 32nd Street. The plan will now go before residents for feedback. A series of open houses will be held from Feb. 11 to 25 and the results of that process will be presented to council March 10.
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