Editor:
Delta council’s decision to move forward with a major re-design for 16th Avenue in Beach Grove raises many questions:
1. Who is it that is pushing for this design? Residents in Beach Grove that I have spoken to say they are quite happy with how the 16th Avenue roadway is today.
2. The City asked for feedback from residents in late 2019. Did that feedback support the change, or did a number of people say to leave 16th as it is?
3. Is there a link between this re-design and the yet to be approved condo development on the Beach Grove Golf Club property on the south side?
4. Why hire a consultant to do a roadway design prior to a decision being made on the proposed condo development? Or is that decision a foregone conclusion?
5. There is a pathway the length of 16th north side. Why is this not sufficient?
6. Why is more parking needed when the roadway has sufficient areas for parked cars on both sides of the street as it is?
7. How much, how often do cyclists use 16th? Do not cyclists mostly use Beach Grove Road to and from the dyke accesses more than they use 16th?
8. Are there statistics for the number of cyclists using 16th?
9. Are there safety concerns for cyclists? Is the roadway not wide enough to accommodate them without changing the roadway design?
10. With the current pandemic and the huge hit on Delta’s finances why spend large sums on projects that are mainly cosmetic and not urgent?
11. How can Delta taxpayers afford over $100,000 for design work when the country is in the midst of a pandemic which will take many years to recover from?
12. There are many roads in South Delta that do need work. For example 41b Street in West Ladner is in terrible shape. There are others that need complete re-surfacing. Why not focus on these projects rather than “enhancing streetscapes” in areas that do not need it?
These and other questions should be answered and residents provided with more information before projects like this move into design and construction, with the city spending taxpayer funds during and in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Roger Emsley
