Tuesday, October 8, 2024
October 8, 2024

Viewpoint: Traffic problem needs to be addressed

By MYNA LEE JOHNSTONE

This is a warning to the Salt Spring Local Community Commission, Islands Trust trustees and every islander.

The volume of traffic and congestion in and through Ganges this summer is now intolerable  and dangerous. It has to be dealt with. It will only get worse with each coming year.

By noon on many days, all of the parking lots and spaces are full, while roads  are full of vehicles trying to pass through, or with drivers circling about looking for parking. 

When I was a Salt Spring transportation commissioner we noted the difficulties in Ganges and of course other parts of the island. We had delegations come pleading for crosswalks. One commissioner submitted a thorough study of problems for persons with mobility  issues, including no sidewalk space and misplaced crosswalks. We had entire neighbourhoods asking to get the speed reduced in their area. I did a petition to have the speed reduced through Ganges and on up to Atkins Road. This is a high-density area for seniors and includes our hospital  area.

My conclusion is that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been absolutely delinquent in addressing all this.

Yes, finally this spring, a short bit of road through  Ganges  was reduced to a 30 km/h speed limit, but after Rainbow Road the drivers can escalate all the way up past Atkins Road. 

Not only are pedestrians complaining about the speed but drivers trying to turn out onto the main road are having long waits because of the volume of traffic and speed. For persons living along the route and in Ganges, the noise and fumes are a daily health hazard.

So what can be done about this?

Several years ago, a park and ride system was proposed. This would require shuttle services. Country Grocer is providing a shuttle vehicle picking up customers to shop and bringing them home.

A very active rideshare app with drivers signing in with destinations and times  would help. 

I believe a community-run fleet of vans, with some even electric powered, going about the island would be the ideal. This could be initially set up with financing  from many organizations. 

We know from the Capital Regional District Active Transportation Network Plan study that in 2017, only 1.7 per cent of islanders cycled, 0.7 per cent used transit, six per cent walked and 88 per cent drove or were passengers in a car. The average household does 5.15 trips per day and individuals 3.5. That makes for a lot of traffic. There are over 11,000 registered vehicles here.

An Uber-style local system could happen. Possibilities and solutions exist. It will take much community goodwill and care to attend to this.

The island could become a popular role model for other places talking about sustainability and having an environmental mandate.

The writer is a former Salt Spring Island Transportation Commission member and advocate for active, safer and healthier transportation.

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