Residents rally against road plans

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 04, 2008

Residents of 26th Street don’t want East Hill’s traffic problems dumped on them. About 50 people protested Saturday against the possible closures of 30th Avenue at Suicide Hill and 25th Avenue at 27th Street. “If that happens, we are concerned the traffic will get fed along our street,” said Jane Vice, a resident of 26th Street. “There’s a lot of traffic already along our road and they speed.” Greg Willis also fears city hall’s proposal to close Suicide Hill and the 25th Avenue access on to 27th Street will lead to motorists using 26th Street as an alternate route. “We will get squeezed at both ends. There will be increased flow from both ends,” he said. Willis questions why city hall staff have come up with the changes as they are. “Not enough was done in the proposal to reflect the views of the citizens who are going to be impacted,” he said. The primary concern is that increased traffic on 26th Street will put pedestrians, and especially children, at risk. “There’s a lot of children in the neighbourhood and I’m concerned about someone getting hit,” said Vice. Saturday’s protest coincided with National Keep Kids Safe Day. “Safe Kids Canada reports that more than 4,000 kids are injured by vehicles every year,” said Vice. A petition was signed by participants and the goal is to place pressure on city hall to keep 25th Avenue and Suicide Hill open as a way of reducing traffic flow on 26th Street. Council hasn’t made a decision on the proposal yet, and Vice believes the elected officials will take her neighbourhood’s concerns seriously. “My take is that city hall is divided on this so we are hopeful,” she said.
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East Hill plan off course By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 04, 2008

City hall officials appeared caught off guard when 100 people crammed into council chambers May 22 to debate proposed changes to East Hill road networks. Why they were surprised is beyond me. Traffic patterns in your neighbourhood are mom and pop and apple pie. It's basic instinct for people who have invested their lives and finances into a home to focus on activities that occur around them. It's territorial. And those instincts are generally more enhanced on East Hill. Not only is it one of Vernon's oldest, most-established neighbourhoods. But it's also one of the last vestiges of heritage architecture, and home to many young families. Emotions always run strong when East Hill is involved. The city should have realized this, especially when unveiling radical proposals that would close off the landmark Suicide Hill and plunk a roundabout down at 32nd Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road.

Yes, there is a speed issue on Suicide Hill and that places vehicles and pedestrians at risk. But if that's the problem, take care of it and don't be over-reactionary by shutting down a major route into a densely populated area. Just because Suicide Hill is blocked off doesn't mean that traffic will disappear. It's just going to find another way to reach its destination and that will be the side streets. Residents of 26th Street are so concerned about that prospect that they protested Saturday, demanding that the city not worsen an existing problem with traffic and speed. Their fears were fueled when transportation specialist Lorne Holowachuk told council May 12, "You can make a right turn at 26th and head in a southerly direction, then go east at any street that makes the most sense for your destination." Laurie MacKay, a traffic technician, suggested May 22 that 26th Street was never considered a connector route and that Holowachuk was misquoted, But not only do I stand by the article written by reporter Roger Knox, one only has to stand on Suicide Hill to envision motorists detouring on to 26th Street if 30th Avenue is blocked off.

In terms of the proposed roundabout at Pleasant Valley Road and 32nd Avenue, it is also generating considerable anxiety. And the reason for that is Vernon's existing roundabout downtown and that even after four years, many motorists still struggle to navigate the device. My own experience is that close-calls are still a common occurrence there, and the main problem is confusion about entering and leaving the traffic circle. No one questions the need to improve safety at Pleasant Valley Road and 32nd Avenue, but there appears to be a more practical solution than a roundabout. "The problem will be solved with a proper red-green stop light," said Fred Hartley, a longtime resident. Obviously that makes sense as, unlike a roundabout, everyone knows how a light-controlled intersection works. City staff certainly deserves credit for wanting to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians alike, but the proposal seems destined for failure as many council members have already indicated that they oppose it, and particularly the closing down of Suicide Hill.

But instead of totally abandoning the matter, now would be the time for city staff to incorporate some of the suggestions from residents, whether it's a stop light at Pleasant Valley Road or installing traffic calming measures on 30th Avenue. And perhaps the greatest outcome out of this scenario is reminding city hall that residents are passionate about issues that directly affect them, particularly when they are right in their own backyard.