As children head back to school next week, a group of Ladner Elementary parents is raising concerns over safety along 44th Avenue.
Jennifer O'Sullivan, who represents an informal group of parents and neighbours, has written to the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure seeking answers and safety measures in the area before someone gets hurt.
O’Sullivan, who has lived in the neighbourhood for eight years, said she and other neighbours have written to the City of Delta on multiple occasions in an effort to slow traffic, but have been told time after time that money is not in the city’s budget.
“We have had the volunteer community policing come and do speed and radar checks where each and every check conducted over the years found that the majority of drivers do not obey the speed limit and, in fact, use excessive speed on the road at all times of the day,” O'Sullivan said.
“Our children deserve and have the right to get to school and enjoy its offerings in a safe way without fear of being struck by a speeding vehicle.”
Besides 44th Avenue not having any speed reducing bumps like other area schools, O’Sullivan said the street itself is in disrepair, which poses a major safety hazard.
She said the sidewalks are so corroded they are of several different heights and are a major tripping hazard and near impossible to navigate with any type of mobility device.
O’Sullivan is hoping that by writing to the province it will put some pressure on Delta to finally act.
“Our community is desperate for help. A sign is not expensive. There are measures that could be taken by the city until it does make it into the budget, but there is no effort to do anything. They [Delta] don’t seem to be listening.”
Steven Lan, Delta’s director of engineering, confirmed that O’Sullivan has communicated her concerns to Delta on multiple occasions. He said staff last collected traffic data from the area in 2016.
“I know she is interested in traffic calming, so we will be responding to her and suggesting that staff collect new data once school starts to see if it would qualify for neighbourhood traffic calming,” said Lan.
“There is actually a curb bulge so it is very clear in terms of students crossing to the school, so from a safety stand-point it isn’t something that has come across my desk, but this data collection will provide us with a clearer picture. We will report out once it is collected.”
