The Editor,
Re. “Road through Bert Flinn is key” (Letters, The Tri-City News, June 20).
First, let me say that I support protecting Bert Flinn Park 100%. I frequently use the park, signed the petition to save it and want it to remain as is.
While I understand letter writer Wilhelmina Martin’s concern about the future of Ioco Road, a road through Bert Flinn Park is not going to significantly reduce the traffic from the proposed Ioco lands development.
I attended the information meeting and was impressed with the research and options considered by Port Moody city staff. But after looking at the different routes, it was clear that the traffic from the lower portion of the development would still flow through Ioco Road regardless of which option the city chooses.
It’s a slippery slope because a road through Bert Flinn would be an open invitation to even further development and more traffic on Ioco Road. Why? Because the residents of the proposed development will use Ioco as the most direct route to Port Moody’s city centre, mass transit and commuter routes to other parts of the Lower Mainland.
Ioco Road may be busy but David Avenue and Heritage Mountain Boulevard are busier. As these are established arteries for the Tri-Cities, the city needs to consider what an intersection at David and Heritage Mountain would look like.
Two schools, continued development on Burke Mountain and beyond will create gridlock and channel even more traffic to a city centre that’s already choking on congestion.
Further, the city cannot look at this issue in isolation without consideration for the plans for development along St. Johns and at Coronation Park, Electronic Avenue and the Flavelle mill site.
So what is the answer?
If the city and its residents want to plan beyond just the electoral cycle and 20 years to the future, then it needs to consider option N: a Burrard Inlet bridge.
A bridge would not only allow for further development of Ioco, Ioco tank farm, Burrard Thermal, Anmore and Belcarra, but also reduce traffic from new developments through the city’s core. It would give those living along Ioco Road a more direct route to Barnet Highway and beyond.
Yes, it would be expensive, but we’re looking at a 20-year plan and not just until the next election. And it would keep Bert Flinn Park intact — a nice legacy for our current city council.
Monica Keen, Port Moody
