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Tsawwassen traffic needs to be addressed before large development proposals considered

Editor: I’m always amazed at where we place ourselves in community discussions. The reality is that most of us are interested in community well-being as well as general quality of life.

Editor:

I’m always amazed at where we place ourselves in community discussions. The reality is that most of us are interested in community well-being as well as general quality of life. Naturally, how we qualify or achieve those issues is where we tend to differ. And that can become the basis of disagreement.

Soon the traffic study for the Century Group’s Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall proposal will be complete.

With the impending construction of the Southlands, it is imperative that all its traffic implications be dealt with before any additional densification planning be undertaken. The Southland traffic study is now six years old and worth reviewing to check the accuracy of its predictions.

How does the proposal account for rush hour traffic implications from the proposed 500 condo units or the ensuing commercial traffic?

Tsawwassen has but one effective egress for both the Southlands and the mall developments. Delta engineering agrees that 52nd Street is not an alternative. The impact of an additional 950 vehicles from the Southlands alone will put heavy stress on the 56th Street corridor. To propose an additional 500 vehicles to 56th Street traffic is just not reasonable.

Progress is only “progress” when it enhances all aspects of the community. Growth should not be mistaken for progress. Densification has many aspects to it. Not all are positive. Recent development in Ladner has caused serious parking problems along 47th Street. Visibility at intersections has become difficult as a result. This will continue to get worse. For both pedestrians and vehicles, it will be the cause of accidents and frustration and affect quality of life.

Delta is removed from the employment, education and entertainment offered by Vancouver. As such it is rural, not urban community. Cars are a necessity. This will continue to be the case for years to come. How to deal with the ensuing traffic concerns from development needs to be addressed before any additional large development proposals are considered.

As proposed, this “green heart” rebuild of the Town Centre Mall will fail to support the business community. The traffic issues this development will cause to 56th Street will make it difficult for anyone to get in and out of a car to buy a loaf of bread, let alone shop. Businesses will end up suffering even more.

For a more detailed discussion please see: https://metrovanwatch.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/rethink-tsawwassen-road-access/#more-3400

Peter van der Velden