Archive for October, 2011

Laura Benson, Manger of Sustainability and Corporate Planning, unveiled an online interactive map which allows users to look up projects that are part of the Town Centre Investment Incentives Program. There has been $22 million in building permit applications since the start of the program in January.

The Program offers a variety of incentives to encourage commercial, residential and renovation development projects in the Town Centre. Details can be found on our website. 

Ms. Benson also unveiled a tool that is currently under development which allows users to look at before and after photos of properties that have taken advantage of façade improvement incentives in the Town Centre. The bar in the photo can be moved to seamless view  before and after photos. This unique tool will be available as a link off this webpage on our website in upcoming weeks.

Frank Quinn, General Manager: Public Works & Development Services, introduced Mike Proudfoot, Chief Executive Officer, President, Transportation Investment Corporation and Geoff Freer, Executive Director, Gateway Program for an update on  the Gateway Program. Mr. Freer began the presentation [PDF, 5.1MB] with a review of the work that has been done in our community as part of the Gateway Program:

• Construction of high occupancy vehicle and bus lanes from the intersection of Dewdney Trunk Road and Lougheed Highway to the Pitt River Bridge is now complete and there is some signage work that will be completed over the next few weeks. 
• New turning lanes on Harris Road enable access from three lanes to Lougheed Highway westbound alleviating traffic delays in the morning. 
• Better coordination of the traffic signals at Harris Road and Lougheed Highway when railway trains travel through Pitt Meadows. The new system will differentiate between the West Coast Express and larger freight trains, and cycle the lights at Harris Road to allow for longer east/west settings until the train clears, and then revert to timings to clear any north/south traffic that builds up.
• The removal of an invasive plant species in the Katzie Slough; new plantings have gone in and there have been improvements made to storm water management for the area.
• Access to the stretch of the 40 kilometre South Fraser Perimeter Road at the south end of Golden Ears Bridge, from the Pattullo Bridge east will open at the end of 2012. The next section after that will open at the end of 2013. The resulting road system will reduce the time for a trip to the Tsawwassen Ferry currently from in excess of an hour to approximately 30 minutes. This will also allow for better movement of goods in the Lower Mainland.

Mr. Proudfoot spoke of the Port Mann Bridge Project, part of the Gateway Program, and the associated improvements to the road system from 200 Street to McGill Street at the southern end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

He noted that the Gateway Program is the largest construction project in BC history and that the project has gone very well due to the dedication and professionalism of the thousands of men and women who are out there working every day. His presentation showed the progress that has been made and how there are dedicated routes that will eliminate some of the choke points for traffic throughout the entire stretch from Vancouver to Langley, including:

• Access to Highway One, east and westbound, at Mary Hill Bypass will no longer require a stop at United Boulevard. The integration of the bypass into the Cape Horn Interchange should be a positive benefit to local residents.
• Issues regarding the tolling of the Port Mann Bridge. Off-peak tolls for commercial traffic, toll reductions for HOV users and interoperability with tolling devices used on the Golden Ears Bridge are some of the items that will be discussed in greater detail as the bridge gets closer to opening.

Mr. Freer and Mr. Proudfoot took note of a number of local issues around signage, bike access and pedestrian accessibility for people in scooters or wheelchairs from Council and committed to follow up on all questions and comments.

Frank Quinn, General Manager: Public Works & Development Services, presented a report [PDF, 2.7MB] to Council updating the status of the work, the history and next steps for the 124 Avenue Construction Project. This stretch of road, 124 Avenue from Laity Street to 216 Street, is widely known as ‘Shady Lane’ due to the mature heritage trees lining both sides of the roadway. This very special roadway is part of the Trans Canada Trail system that runs through Maple Ridge.

Mr. Quinn reviewed the original scope of the project and noted that area residents had expressed concerns that this road has no sidewalk and that as our community continues to grow, that there were increasing traffic volumes along this roadway. The addition of roadway sidewalks was added to the storm water management project scope for the area, and the project went to public meetings. Residents attending those meetings expressed their pleasure that these matters were being dealt with, and the project began in the late summer of this year.

At the onset of construction, some residents on the street requested a meeting with the District, and Mr. Quinn met with 20 to 25 local residents at a meeting hosted at a home in the neighbourhood. Residents expressed their concerns on a number of issues, including the desire for traffic calming along this stretch.

The report is a follow-up to that meeting. Mr. Quinn noted that the initial work, the placement of the storm water system and the installation of the sidewalks does not preclude further traffic calming. Once the work is complete, the Engineering Department will measure road use to determine what type of traffic calming methods will work best along this stretch of road. That recommendation will come back to Council as part of the business planning process for 2012-2016.

Included in Mr. Quinn’s report is an excerpt from the District’s Neighbourhood Traffic Management Practices which outlines solutions that are applied throughout the District. Mr. Quinn noted that all options would be explored, and that forthcoming recommendations would ensure that the solutions do not just move the problem to other streets in the neighbourhood.

Council discussed concerns around the health of the trees along this stretch and affirmed their trust in the District’s arbourist’s work. Council noted that the arbourist’s report talks about the risk of English Ivy growing up into the trees as being a potential risk to their health and suggested that this information be sent to homeowners whose trees may be impacted by the ivy with recommendations on how to best remove this invasive species.

Mark your calendars!  On December 3 at St. Andrew’s Haney United Church, indoors and outdoors, we present our Winter Market with wonderful crafts, preserves and the delicious Christmas baking from St. Andrew’s Ladies Who Bake.   St. Andrew’s is having Breakfast with Santa on December 10, 8:30 – 11 a.m.  $5.  Tickets will be available at the Market.

 Haney Farmer’s Market makes the move to St. Andrew’s Haney United Church, Dewdney at 222nd Street, for our Autumn indoor/outdoor market and Pancake Breakfast on November 5th.The Market is from 10 – 2p.m.,  pancakes available from 9:30 – 11:00; $3 and $5.