By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 08, 2008
The fate of a controversial bypass is still uncertain. Vernon council members will try and find middle ground Monday on the 25-plus year component of the transportation plan. But legislative gridlock is still a reality, just like May 26 when a motion to protect land for a western bypass died in a 3-3 tie vote. “It’s quite possible it could be status quo,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane of Monday’s deliberations. The prospect of a tie-vote arose after Coun. Buffy Baumbrough declared a conflict of interest because her family’s property could be impacted by the western bypass. City staff continue to recommend protecting a corridor for the western bypass, but two other options will also be presented. One would see 32nd and 27th streets turned into a one-way couplet system, while the other would scrap both a bypass and couplet and focus on alternative transportation such as transit and cycling. Kim Flick, planning and building services manger, believes a thrust towards alternative transportation is possible.
“It would require the community to get involved. If you don’t want a bypass, you have to look at other ways to get around,” she said. Coun. Jack Gilroy believes his colleagues are still divided over a bypass, so he may make a motion Monday that calls for the no bypass option to become policy. “We have to get this transportation plan through so it doesn’t hold up the official community plan review,” said Gilroy, who voted May 26 to preserve the western corridor. Gilroy believes other aspects of the transportation plan will also support not having a bypass. “If Scott Road (extension) is built and if 27th Street is extended, we probably won’t need a bypass,” he said. Cochrane, who voted against the western bypass, insists that the Ministry of Transportation has been missing from the entire debate. “If it’s truly a provincial highway, they need to step up,” he said of planning and committing funds. Coun. Patrick Nicol is still opposed to setting aside land for a western bypass.
“If we are going to mouth Smart Growth, I don’t see how this fits in,” he said. “It’s not a bypass. Bypasses skirt communities and this doesn’t.” Mayor Wayne Lippert, who voted against the western bypass May 26, isn’t sure what will happen Monday. “Council will try to figure out what to do and likely review the transportation plan for clarity,” he said. Coun. Juliette Cunningham, who cast a ballot for corridor protection, is hopeful the impasse can be overcome. “As long as everyone looks at it closely, I hope we can come up with some majority (outcome),” she said.
2 comments:
Strange how when the impending election date looms certain councillors are changing their tunes to sweetness and reasonableness!
Well come next November their records will be put under the microscope and examined with quotes actions and comments!
The game is up for those who have been disrespectful to the taxpayers
This council is unbelievable...by the time they make a decision another 10 years will have passed and still no road....
Vernon already has a major problem all through town with too much traffic....waiting for up to 3 lights to make left turns.
The problem is here now but won't be dealt with for many years to come and then the solution will be outdated before it is even off the ground.
Come on!! with only one way to get out of Vernon to the south don't you think the problem should be solved now...not in the future when the problem will be that much bigger.
This council thinks they are the only ones with the right solution, don't hear the public and don't give any alternatives....once again it is give them a really awful choice no one will agree with and the one council wants and council will get what they want.
Except it will end up just a mess just like the last vote.....messy, with no conclusion.
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