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Letter: Congestion is bad and high-density development is making it worse

The city of Coquitlam is contributing far more to disruption than FortisBC
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The Editor,

I listened to Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart's recent admonishments directed towards FortisBC regarding Como Lake Avenue traffic disruptions.

I have no problem with upgrades to infrastructure and the temporary disruption to traffic flow.

I do have a problem with the permanent disruption to traffic flow that will be happening with the ongoing approvals by Coquitlam council for high-density development.

These developments are invariably touted as transit-oriented and, as such, qualify for zoning and financial considerations for the developer.

If one attends council meetings, one would see an inordinate amount of time spent on discussion of parking and local traffic. If this is transit-oriented, why are cars being discussed at all? Time to retire the term and all the associated perks to developers.

Coquitlam has no published data on the cumulative effect of increased traffic in other areas that serve as feeders to each of these new developments. It is only concerned about left-hand turns at the actual site of an individual project.

In conclusion, Coquitlam itself is contributing far more to disruption than FortisBC.

And I have not even broached the subject of lack of enforcement of traffic rules for said increase in traffic. At least one can drive Como Lake at the speed limit now.

Ken Holowanky, Coquitlam