Since receiving a balmy one-and-a-half million dollars over three years to help solve safety concerns on Highway 101, representatives from the Ministry of Transportation (MoT) sat in on this week's transportation advisory committee. Included in the funding were recommendations for improving Highway 101, including high visibility all-weather pavement markers, enhanced signage to raise the alertness level of drivers to potential safety hazards, pedestrian and cyclist safety, widening shoulders where pedestrian and cyclist use is required and more pullouts for school buses where appropriate.Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons was in attendance at Monday's meeting at the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
Simons said the funding should encompass the entire highway stretch from Langdale to Lund at the northern tip of the Coast.
"It's a Band-Aid solution to an overall transportation issue that needs to have more attention paid to it," Simons said.
The additional funding from MoT encompasses only the north Sechelt area and south of Gibsons.
Concerns were raised by one resident at the meeting about the transit bus stop near Poplars Mobile Home Park, site of a recent fatal accident.
The resident suggested re-routing the bus to make a left hand turn and drop passengers off on the other side of the road. However, some were concerned about the safety of that idea.
Committee members stated they were not in favour of detouring the bus on that stretch of highway, saying it's not safe to detour through the trailer park.
Since that fatal accident on Jan. 2, there have been more concerns raised over the lack of pedestrian crossings available.In the past, Roberts Creek has lobbied for a pedestrian light installed at the highway crossing. Instead, a turning lane was installed, making pedestrian crossing even harder.
"If you are a pedestrian in Roberts Creek, you can only get to the crossing lanes, then it's almost impossible to get to the other side," said Creek resident Germaine Wilson. "Cars won't stop for you. You really have to run to cross the street. You can't walk.
Roberts Creek area director Donna Shugar suggested reflectors being added to parts of Highway 101 could increase visibility.
Along with concerns over visibility, bike lanes were brought up in round table discussions.
"In the early spring, the SCRD is hoping to put one and a half metres of bike lanes along Lagoon Road," said SCRD parks and planning co-ordinator Rebecca Porte. "Funding has been received; we are just waiting for the waterline construction to be completed. Along with Lagoon Road, cyclist infrastructure along Maine Drive to North Road, a stretch of one and a half metres is also being considered with funding pending."
"I want more discussion at these meetings about transportation for non-drivers, students, low-income and others. It's important to incorporate these groups into these meetings," said Diane Corbett, a Granthams Landing resident.
Rounding out the committee meeting was the ongoing issue of the Gibsons bypass. Members of the transportation committee dismissed the issue, stating that creating a bypass at Payne Road won't fix the problem. Additionally, the issue of the perceived lack of attention by Capilano Highways was raised.
"We are having a hard time getting some action from Capliano Highways," said Pender Harbour area director John Rees. "Dust control and pot hole maintenance are major problems facing these communities. We are just not impressed by the reaction we are getting from the contractor. With regards to dust control, the only answer I get from Capliano Highways is 'the calcium is coming.' It's just not good enough. We need a solution."
In a follow-up interview with Coast Reporter Wednesday morning, Capilano Highways general manager Steve Drummond said residents of the Sunshine Coast are receiving "excellent care."
"We [Capliano High-ways] are meeting all our contracts and receiving accolades from both the province and our customers," Drummond said. "With regards to snow removal, I think that this past winter was a wake-up call for everyone involved. Residents need to have winter tires on their vehicles, and we are telling our customers that."
The committee made a recommendation to the SCRD board to ask Capilano Highways to appear at the transportation advisory meetings, and made a motion to send a letter of request to have representatives attend their next meeting.
"We do attend from time to time; however, this past meeting, we were more concerned about the snowfall warning, and we haven't received a letter of request from the SCRD yet," Drummond said.
