Here’s how much Vernon’s infamous Stickle Road 'odyssey' is costing taxpayers

By Charlotte Helston INFONews.ca October 14, 2016 - 6:30 PM
VERNON - The Stickle Road improvement project in Vernon has been sent back to the drawing board multiple times over the past year and a half, and all those traffic studies and design costs are adding up. A freedom of information request by iNFOnews.ca shows the Ministry of Transportation has spent roughly $370,000 to date exploring various options for the dangerous intersection of Stickle Road and Highway 97, just north of Vernon. The original improvement plan came out in May 2015 at an open house. The idea was a right-in, right-out only configuration that would eliminate left-hand turns from Stickle Road onto Highway 97. That plan was quickly shot down by politicians and members of the public. Records show the provincial government was billed nearly $61,000 for engineering services, design work and studies related to the Stickle Road project prior to the open house.

After the proposal was slammed by the community, R.F. Binnie & Associates Ltd., the contractor hired by the ministry to research options for the intersection, was asked to explore other designs, including signalization and a protected-T intersection. Work carried out between May and July 2015, much of it focussed on the concept of a protected-T intersection, racked up roughly $105,000. But politicians and residents weren’t happy with the protected-T idea either, and the ministry again went back to the drawing board. In August 2015, the province started investigating a new idea which involves paving through a wetland area to connect a frontage road with 20 Street behind Rona. Since the ministry shifted efforts to the 20 Street extension concept, work conducted by Binnie, and Golder Associates (a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm), has run up costs of just under $203,000 in design concepts, groundwater tests, and engineering studies. And this latest iteration of the plan still isn’t pleasing everyone. A naturalist group is opposing the project on grounds it will destroy habitat for wildlife and a valued green space used by walkers and cyclists.

Some local politicians, such as Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson, question why the ministry hasn’t developed the one design most locals actually want: a traffic light. “I find it astonishing that the ministry repeatedly rejects a cost-effective traffic light solution that most stakeholders want, while racking up well over a quarter million dollars in costs to try to find a far more expensive alternative that few stakeholders want,” Anderson says. “By the time this ridiculous odyssey is over these mounting consultation expenses may be more than the light would have cost in the first place. Where’s the common sense in that?” North Okanagan Regional District director Mike Macnabb is also frustrated with the process. His concerns with the current idea of extending 20 Street include loss of parkland, as well as unforeseen consequences such as issues on other roads due to the new traffic flow. “I think this is a pretty expensive experiment with no certainty,” he says. While surprised at how much work the ministry contracted out to private firms, Macnabb says studies do cost money but are worthwhile. “Going to the public too soon with no plan is not effective. You have to start somewhere,” Macnabb says. He feels that engaging the public, and spending money coming up with the best design concept, is appropriate in a multi-million dollar construction project — as long as it’s fruitful. “It’s how much are you actually going to listen to the public? That’s the more important thing to ask. And if your preconceived idea is not going to change, and you’re only doing this because you have to, that is a problem and not a good use of money,” Macnabb says. The ministry has previously said a traffic light would inhibit traffic flow, increase the risk of rear-enders, and create more greenhouse gas emissions — but Macnabb is hopeful the stance may change with the upcoming provincial election. “If there’s a change of government, the new ministry may look at this and say this does not make sense. It could be completely different,” he says.We requested an interview with Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster but did not hear back by deadline.

Editor’s note: Our freedom of information request resulted in more than two dozen individual invoices and it remains unclear if certain costs were itemized twice. We have contacted the Ministry of Finance for clarification of these amounts, but have not yet received an answer. As such, the amounts represented in this article are approximate. You can view the documents directly here.

When we submitted our freedom of information request in July 2016, we requested all records from April 1, 2015 to date. Due to the length of time it took for the ministry to process our request, our story does not reflect any additional costs accrued between July and today’s date.

Third Highway Plan Nearing Completion

Posted on 2/4/2016 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The new plan for a dangerous Vernon intersection could be ready for public viewing in the next few weeks. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says Transportation Ministry staff are finalizing the latest design for Highway 97 and Stickle Road. "We're at the fine details part of the planning. In principal, I think we are where we need to be and now it's the technical people doing their thing," Foster tells Kiss FM. Two previous plans have been rejected by the public and local politicians. Initially, many people wanted a traffic light at the site but the Ministry rejected that idea, concerned it would slow down traffic and cause more fender bender crashes. The new proposal is expected to include extending 20th Street near RONA to Volkswagen, to provide a safer north-south route for vehicles.

Open house date changes for Stickle Road

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 16, 2015 at 8:00 AM
The Ministry of Transportation has set a new date for a Stickle Road open house. The open house was previously set for July 30, but will be now be held from 4 to 8 p.m. July 29 to accommodate long-weekend travel. The open house will be held at the Prestige Hotel.

The ministry's new proposal calls for a protected T intersection to allow for left turns from Stickle Road on to Highway 97 towards Vernon. There would be a separate left turn with turn-around access for the Silver Star RV Park area and the ministry would eliminate highway cross-movements and left-hand turns from the RV park. There would also be new acceleration lanes leaving Stickle Road and existing deceleration lanes entering Stickle Road from the highway would be lengthened.

The ministry proposal for Stickle Road can be viewed at www.vernon.ca/transportation. Comments can be emailed to eng@vernon.ca and they will be forwarded to the ministry.

MLA Supports New Stickle Plan

Posted on 7/15/2015 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
The MLA for Vernon-Monashee supports the new plan for Highway 97 and Stickle Road -- even though Vernon council and others have already panned it. Eric Foster calls the protected-T intersection "the best alternative," and a better solution than adding a traffic light. "Nobody can come back and say, "They are doing this because it's cheaper." Believe me, this is considerably more expensive than it would be to put a light in. It would be millions of dollars cheaper to put a light in It's got nothing to do with being cheap or cheeping-out, it has to do with traffic flow and safety," Foster tells Kiss FM. Foster won't call this the "final plan," but says transportation staff doesn't want to slow down traffic with another light on the highway. "There's been comments that nobody's listening. Well, everyone is listening, but the professional engineers and traffic flow engineers are telling us this is the best alternative." The proposal would allow left turns onto the highway from the east side of Stickle Road near Squires Four Pub, but not from the west where there's an RV park. There would be a separate left turn with turn-around access for those motorists. "I'm disappointing that people aren't talking to the professionals and listening to what the professionals have to say on this. This is why we have these folks, to advise us on what is the best method to use, and that's what they've said, "adds Foster who opposed the first plan put forward by Ministry staff. The ministry will hold an open house on the plan July 30th at the Prestige Hotel from 4 to 8pm.

STICKLE ROAD Intersection Improvements Second Public Information Meeting - Rescheduled to July 29.

Don Quixote Note:

The City of Vernon (At the Link below) gives the full details of the presentation to be made at the second Public Information session (now scheduled for July 29). It also gives the opportunity to make any comments via e-mail to eng@vernon.ca and these will be forwarded to the MOTI.


http://www.vernon.ca/transportation/index.html

---------
UPDATE RE SCHEDULED TIME:
This is in order to accommodate any members of the public who are planning to head out of town for the long weekend. The venue and times for the event have not changed. Details for the Second Public Open House are:

Date: Wednesday July 29, 2015
Time: 4pm – 8pm
Location: Prestige Hotel (4411 – 32nd Street), Vernon B.C.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES: Ministry of Transportation off course

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jul 15, 2015 at 1:00 AM
One of the Ministry of Transportation staff that appeared before Vernon city council Monday is based in Kamloops. To get here, he would have passed through several traffic signals on the Trans-Canada Highway. Another ministry official came up from Kelowna and virtually everyone is familiar with the barrage of lights lining Highway 97 in Kelowna and Lake Country. But despite that personal experience, they tried to convince Vernon’s politicians that a traffic signal at Highway 97 and Stickle Road is not only impractical, but dangerous. “It will result in delays and traffic queues,” said Rampaul Dulay, the ministry’s project director, of a light. “It has the potential to increase collision rates at the intersection with a high frequency of rear-end collisions anticipated.” Dulay also went on to say that, “Driver expectations will not be met because motorists don’t expect signals on high-speed highways.” Based on that argument, Coun. Scott Anderson suggested, “we should take out all traffic signals.” And it’s difficult to believe the ministry is taking that stance when you consider the speed limits that range from 50 to 90 kilometres-an-hour in Lake Country and Kelowna. Motorists are ramping the speed up pretty good when they hit a signal at the Kelowna airport and very few accidents are publicly reported there. The situation isn’t much different in Kamloops and particularly in the Valleyview area and heading east through industrial zones. “I don’t understand why we can’t have a light,” said Mayor Akbal Mund, who spends a lot of time behind the wheel. Despite the ministry’s description of Stickle Road being on a high-speed highway, it’s not in the middle of the boondocks. It is just a short distance from a heavily built-up commercial core, and there are long-standing businesses and residences at the intersection. More commercial development will occur there once sewer lines are extended. Coun. Juliette Cunningham is not impressed with the ministry’s opposition to a light. “There’s a bias and the negatives have been emphasized,” she said. And that is particularly the most surprising factor given that the city, the regional district, businesses and residents have categorically insisted what their preferred option is for the intersection. In fact, Dulay even acknowledged that during an April 30 open house, the ministry heard the need to, “install a traffic signal to improve safety.” But instead of proceeding with grassroots feedback, the ministry went in a completely different direction and is now proposing a model that would allow for left-hand turns from the east side of the highway but eliminate cross traffic and left-hand turns on the west side. “This was one of the proposals considered before,” said Bob Fleming, regional district director. That means little effort went into viable options once the plan for prohibiting left-hand turns was scrapped, and the ministry simply dusted off an old design. Given that the new proposal has been revealed and opposition will have time to wage a fight, the ministry’s July 30 open house could make the raucous April 30 session look like a tea party. My prediction is that so much pressure will build up that MLA Eric Foster will urge the ministry to back off this plan just as occurred after the last open house. What that will mean is despite the ministry wasting significant time and resources, a traffic signal will ultimately be installed.

Drive for Peachland highway bypass now fueled by $70,000 transportation study

Posted: Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:06 am Ron Seymour The Daily Courier - Kelowna
Advocates of a highway bypass around Peachland hope for another big turnout when the group holds its annual general meeting June 12. “Last year, we were somewhat astounded when more than 60 people showed up,” Bruce Letendre, president of the Highway 97 Task Force, said Sunday.
“That definitely shows the interest there is in Peachland for a bypass around the town, rather than eventually widening the existing highway,” Letendre said. Those who attend the AGM will hear some particularly good news, Letendre says. “Just six weeks ago, we received official confirmation the the Ministry of Transportation has provided $70,000 to study the bypass option,” he said. Bypass advocates have been campaigning for close to a decade for a bypass around Peachland, but this is the first time the government has put money toward such a study. “I've been around a lot of political campaigns over the years, and I know a government will revisit an issue if there's a body that squeaks loud and long enough,” Letendre said. “Maybe we've just squeaked enough.” Peachland has the only two-lane stretch of Highway 97 from north of Vernon to south of Penticton. In recent years, new traffic lights have been installed along the corridor, raising concerns that rising traffic volumes are building pressure for four-laning of the highway. Opponents say widening the highway would increase the divide between lakeside and hillside neighborhoods, lead to more car-oriented commercial enterprises like those up the hill in nearby Westbank, and undermine Peachland's scenic and tourist charms. Bypass advocates have proposed a 17-kilometre long route, most of which could be built on Crown land west of the town. “It would be longer than the existing highway, but not that much longer, and travel could travel faster,” says John Abernathy, president of another Peachland group that's pushing for a bypass.
----------
Population: 2011 Census, 5,200
Peachland area in hectares: 1,575
Peachland elevation: 1,125 (343 m)

Road works may be cut

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 13, 2013 1:00 AM
Public expectations may have to evolve if ballooning infrastructure costs are to be trimmed. The City of Vernon is currently in the midst of an integrated transportation framework that will look at road reconstruction and maintenance. “We want to chip some of the costs off,” said Michael Trickey, with consulting firm Strategic Infrastructure Management. However, that may mean residents will see road widths narrow, shoulders may shrink and curbs and gutter could go from concrete to asphalt. Mayor Rob Sawatzky admits that dealing with public expectations could be a challenge. “The issue gets complex with the size of the vehicles on residential streets — quarter-ton trucks instead of smaller cars,” he said. The city has $375 million in road assets and there is a $40 million backlog in work. “Cost containment is so important. It’s not about raising taxes people don’t have,” said Trickey. Trickey says there is a need to look at the specific function of a road and to not over-design. “How many lanes do there have to be? How many shoulders? Does there have to be a bike path?” he said, adding that maintenance factors to consider are landscaping, snow storage and street lighting. “Every time you do a road, you need to ask, ‘How is it impacting my maintenance costs?’” It’s expected the integrated transportation framework will be presented to council for consideration in February. “It gives me a sense of confidence in what we’re trying to do,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. Sawatzky believes it is important for the city to look at reducing costs instead of just relying on increasing taxes. “It’s essential to manage infrastructure in an affordable manner,” he said.

Council gives driving habit study the gears

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 16, 2012 1:00 AM
A study into motorists’ habits may have hit a dead end.  The City of Vernon will not seek Regional District of North Okanagan funds for a valley travel survey, and it hasn’t been decided if the city will even participate. “I don’t see the value of the survey at this time,” said Coun. Bob Spiers. In 2007, the city spent $60,000 to canvass north and central Okanagan residents on mobility patterns while Kelowna provided $120,000. Kelowna wants to proceed with another survey in September to gather updated information. It will be seeking financial assistance from its partners around the Regional District of Central Okanagan board table. While city staff recommended going to RDNO for funds, Coun. Juliette Cunningham disagreed. “We have problems getting some of the jurisdictions to cough up $1,500 for transit so it’s not realistic,” she said. A firm cost for a 2012 study has not been determined and even if RDNO participated, the city would pick up 68 per cent of the grant. It’s not known when, or if, the city will consider  taking part in the study on its own. “Has there been a lot of changes in traffic in five years? There hasn’t been a lot of growth,” said Coun. Catherine Lord. Cunningham doesn’t believe the study would be a good investment. “We don’t need to spend $60,000 to have people tell us they want more transit,” she said. But others support gathering public opinion. “Information on travel is important for our (official community) plan,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. “When we discuss extending transit, we need good information on where people are coming from.”
----------
Excerpts from Previous study P.7-13  March 13 Agenda Package 

City drives for highway improvements

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2008

Vernon’s mayor is optimistic the provincial government will take action on escalating traffic congestion. Wayne Lippert met with Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon in Victoria Thursday to discuss much-needed improvements to highways 97 and 6 in Vernon. “It was one of the more positive meetings I’ve had,” said Lippert. “We went through our five-year transportation plan and they are definitely interested and talking about it. We didn’t get a definite yes but they are looking at it.” Among the possible improvements are installing more left-turn lanes on 32nd Street (Highway 97) and placing restrictions on turning at some intersections. There is also the question of what to do at 32nd Street and 25th Avenue, next to Polson Park. “That’s the intersection that gets the most congested,” said Lippert. No potential timelines were established by Falcon. “All we can do is wait and see what the decision will be,” said Lippert.

Coun. Barry Beardsell recently suggested that the city close 27th Street off to transport trucks as a way of bringing Vernon’s traffic issues to the attention of the government. Lippert says the issue of shutting down 27th Street to large trucks was discussed with Falcon, but the concept didn’t go over well. “It would cause more grief for us than them,” said Lippert of the large transport trucks being forced on to side roads and further increasing the congestion on 32nd Street. But there was some discussion Thursday about the provincial government possibly taking on some responsibilities for 27th Street. “There could be some value for the highway system,” said Lippert.The city owns and maintains 27th Street but it is used as a connector between highways 97 and 6.

Traffic congestion in the North and Central Okanagan cost about $200 million per year, according to a report released Friday by the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission and the City of Kelowna. The study states that more than 48 per cent of excess delays are in Central Kelowna, followed by 22.7 per cent in suburban Kelowna and 18.2 per cent in Vernon. It also found that excess commuting costs to and from work in the region are estimated at $521 per year per car commuter. The greatest cost is in the Central Kelowna, followed by Vernon. By 2030, the costs are estimated to reach $802 per car region-wide. “Costs attributed to reduced speeds and congestion amount to $22.7 million per year for auto travel and 2.9 million per year for truck travel. This is estimated to rise to $42 million and $6 million respectively in 2030. Congestion reduces employment in the region by 935 jobs, rising to 1,619 in 2030.”

Costly Congestion

Starlee Speers-Vernon 105.7 SUN FM

Traffic congestion is so bad in the Central and North Okanagan that it costs each commuter an extra five hundred dollars a year. Those findings in a report released today on traffic congestion and economic costs. Kelowna Transportation director Ron Westlake says, steps are being taken to ensure the costs don't reach the projected 8 hundred dollars per car by 2030."It's not all about building more roads, it's a matter of using those roads more efficiently. We've got an agressive transit plan that we're in the stages of implementing." The report shows over 11 million vehicle hours of excess delay per year are occurring in Kelowna and Vernon.

‘Inland port’ on the agenda

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 15, 2008

The North Okanagan could eventually become a major transportation hub. The federal government announced Friday that it will provide $65,000 for a study looking at a possible inland port somewhere in the North Okanagan. “The potential impact of such a facility is enormous,” said Colin Mayes, Okanagan-Shuswap MP. An inland port would be used to transfer commercial goods from trucks and trains as they are shipped to the ocean port at Prince Rupert. “It could be a large staging area or smaller transfer area that can hand off goods from one form of transport to another,” said Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman. Oglow believes that the North Okanagan’s proximity to the U.S. is beneficial. “We’re right on Highway 97 and we have rail right on our doorstep,” he said. The study will look at a number of issues including three possible locations and whether the railway companies and provincial government would invest in an inland port. The study will also consider the costs and potential benefits. A consultant will be hired, and it’s anticipated that the study will be completed by March. Besides the federal government, NORD is providing $5,200 towards the study, while $7,800 is coming from Community Futures. “It will be the first of several phases to come,” said Oglow, who says the port could bolster economic development. “It would create fairly good-paying jobs.” The $65,000 is part of the federal government’s efforts to help communities cope with the pine beetle infestation. Forty per cent of the wealth in the North Okanagan is related to the forest sector. “There are companies that sell tires, equipment or fuel. It’s not just the guys cutting down trees,” said Wayne Lippert, Vernon’s mayor. Jane Lister, Community Futures general manager, is pleased that economic diversification is being tackled as the North Okanagan’s population continues to grow. “Initiatives that assist transportation issues are important now,” she said
-------------

Editorial June 15 Morning Star. Study may lead to reality

It's difficult to get too excited about a government study because too many times they end up being just that – a report that leads to nowhere. So it was with some cynicism that we greet the federal government's announcement Friday that a study will look at the feasibility of an inland port somewhere in the North Okanagan. Although Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes enthusiastically proclaimed a major transportation hub for the area could be potentially 'enormous,' it's as far from being a reality as a real port on Okanagan Lake. However, the idea has merit. A so-called inland port that linked the ocean port of Prince Rupert with the rest of the Interior through the North Okanagan may make sense for a variety of reasons. The possibility to create a staging area locally for goods travelling by rail or truck to Prince Rupert sounds doable. The study will look at the costs and potential benefits, as well as whether the provincial government and the railways will come on board. It will also look at three possible locations. The North Okanagan Regional District and Community Futures are already onside with funding and the prerequisite enthusiasm. "We're right on Highway 97 and we have rail right on our doorstep," proclaimed NORD chairman Jerry Oglow. The federal money is coming from the program to help communities cope with pine beetle devastation. And seeing how a significant portion of the local economy is connected with the forestry sector, we deserve our due. However, let's hope this study on becoming a possible transportation hub drives forward into a reality and doesn't stall at the study stage.

Feb 25 5:30 Public Input Session on Transportation Plan.

Betty Selin, Astral Media Radio - Vernon Draft Transportation Plan

How will traffic move through Vernon in 10 25 or even 50 years? That's the question that needs answers at the City looks for feedback from the public on their draft transportation plan. Long Range Planner, Kim Flick says with a growing population the city has to look at how to move traffic and green options. Flick says they need to look at more than just where the roads will go, but giving people other options like walking, cycling and transit. She says other regulatory bodies will be part of the process Flick is hoping people won't get hung up on issues like increased traffic on 27th street or the Western By-pass.She says people need to attend the open houses and look at all the options, then fill out the survey. All the details are on the city's website.

---------------------

Don Quixote Note: At this mornings COW meeting Council unanimously agreed to have a public input session on the Transportation Plan at 5:30 PM on Tues.Mar. 25. This will allow for more public input after they view the City's open houses and staff reports on the comments and surveys at the afternoon meeting of Council on Mar. 25. This public input session and any more such input sessions if required seems to be a response to requests for delegations to Council on this subject. Council decided that all delegations would be requested to make presentations at this newly announced Public Input session.