Dear Editor,
As a resident of Steveston in the area of 7th Avenue and Chatham Street, it greatly concerns me to find out that the City of Richmond is even considering a proposal from TransLink to turn our corner of the village into a transit loop.
I believe that our mayor sits on a TransLink mayors committee.
Did he miss the meeting where this proposal was tabled? If he supports this proposal, it makes me wonder if he has actually physically walked in this area and considered the safety issues?
To allow buses to use 7th Avenue south of Chatham, where they will drive right through a daycare dropoff and pickup zone, then turn left onto Moncton Street, where the large majority of the traffic is walkers, runners, cyclists, dog walkers, rollerbladers’, kids and the elderly making their way between Garry Point Park and the village, is a tragic accident waiting to happen.
It is very rare to see cars on the section of Moncton between 7th and 6th avenues - now they want to put buses on it day and night?
In addition to the safety concerns of the daycare and the proximity to the Garry Point concession stand, does the proposal take into account that 7th Avenue south of Chatham is very narrow and likely not built to withstand the weight of buses constantly driving on it?
I haven’t even mentioned the potential environmental impact on the Japanese trees next to 7th Avenue in Garry Point Park, and the enjoyment of people picnicking under them, the row of idling buses and accompanying air brake noise on the houses on Chatham between 6th and 4th, the impact on the homeless currently living in campers and motorhomes on 6th Avenue?
The City of Richmond needs to send TransLink back to the drawing board on this one.
I have started a petition against this proposal and will rally the area to push back against the city and TransLink, and will make sure our voices are heard at any public hearings, online surveys, or any other forms of public input.
We will not roll over.
Drew Rickard
Steveston
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