Transportation is the biggest issue facing the Tri-Cities and, as chair of Port Coquitlam's transportation solutions and public works committee, Coun. Darrell Penner has come under some scrutiny.
Earlier this year, his committee put the Fremont connector discussions into high gear, proposing three options south of Prairie Avenue to connection with Lougheed Highway via Burns Road, and three options north of Prairie to link with Burke Mountain in Coquitlam.
Penner, a city councillor since 2000 who came in second place in the 2011 election, said he wants to keep an open mind about the process as the city calls for public feedback in January.
The Cedar Drive plan would have the least impact to DeBoville Slough, he notes, and the Devon Road concept "makes sense because we already own the road right-of-way The one under the power lines makes the least sense."
On public transit, Penner said PoCo council has struggled with TransLink's recent "optimization" program - "which is to say, cutting services" - and more lobbying needs to be done. Still, some things have improved recently, as with an extra bus up to David Avenue on Burke Mountain. Penner is also in favour of creating a wider trail system for cyclists.
Asked about sharing RCMP services with Coquitlam, Penner believes it's time for a change. "The model has not worked well," he said, noting the city could base its own detachment on the south side.
As for supporting business, Penner feels the Dominion Triangle is a different model from the downtown core: shoppers go to Fremont Village as a big box destination while the Shaughnessy Street zone is full of small shops that area residents can walk to. "There are very few places where you can get your rod, jump in the elevator, go downstairs and walk up the road to go fishing."
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