The Editor,
Re. “Proposal for big bucks for overpasses to solve some Tri-Cities traffic tie-ups” (The Tri-City News, Dec. 15).
The Tri-City News last week highlighted several big-cost proposals for traffic flow improvement. There are three other items that need priority attention and that would significantly improve road safety and which would be a lot less expensive.
The improvements you list and the ones in this letter are long overdue. It is high time that the respective councils did something to improve the quality of road safety and traffic flow. Every year, taxes are increased and all we get in return are higher council and employee salaries.
The specific improvements are:
• White lane markers need to be properly maintained. Far too many are nearly obliterated and have been this way for years which makes driving during the day, let alone at night, hazardous.
• Maintain uniform and sufficient lighting levels and safety barriers, particularly in the case of Lougheed Highway between Pitt Meadows and Westwood Street in Coquitlam, and between Westwood and United Boulevard. Long stretches are either poorly lit or not lit at all. The lighting quality of those stretches that are lit is variable and generally poor. This alternation of light levels makes it difficult for drivers’ eyes to adjust. The lack of safety barriers invites death or serious injury in the event of a driver mistake.
• Too many cars have lights that are far too bright. I’m not sure whether this is because drivers have high beams on, lights are poorly aimed or there is no uniform standard for car light levels. Discussion needs to be begun with Transport Canada or the appropriate authority to eliminate this hazard.
We are packing more and more people into the Tri-Cities and doing less and less to develop and maintain appropriate infrastructure. Maybe we can get some replacement mayors and councils in 2018 that will spend some time they now use approving new apartment blocks to get us better infrastructure.
Brian Cole, Coquitlam
