August 3rd article in the Vancouver Courier: "Truckers decry Vancouver route changes"

[Safe East Van Streets]

Dear Ms. Yako,

I read with interest the article in August 3rd's Vancouver Courier, "Truckers decry Vancouver route changes".  I represent the ACTORS group, (Advocating for Container Trucks Off Residential Streets).  We are a non-partisan group of local residents who are concerned about the dangers posed to residential streets due to the Clark Drive closure of the entrance to Port Metro Vancouver.

I would like to clarify that our group is not interested in creating problems for truckers accessing the Port - to the contrary, we share your concerns as expressed in the above named article.  We believe that the Port's decision to close the Clark Drive entrance was not planned out in a sustainable fashion and that the decision to push Container Truck traffic further East onto city streets that are not appropriate for large trucks of this nature has caused problems for all parties involved, with the exception of the Port.  It is evident that the added distance and time required for truckers increases the costs and complicates the profit margins for the container trucks accessing the port, and it is also bewildering how environmental concerns could be cited as improved by asking trucks to drive many kilometres further, spreading the emissions through highly residential areas and then idle further on Port land.  

It is also very important to note that, while we are not uniquely concerned about Nanaimo Street as a trucking route, Nanaimo Street is uniquely inappropriate for trucks due in part to the 19 schools that border the approx. 6km route the trucks take to reach Commissioner Street at the bottom of McGill. Many thousands of children are forced onto Broadway, Nanaimo and McGill Streets each day to reach schools and programs both as pedestrians and in vehicles.  The pedestrian operated lights and cross walks along Nanaimo Street appear to be ineffective with trucks carrying a full load, particularly when there is a downgrade such as the one coming North-bound from 1st Avenue.  In my observation it is impossible for some trucks to stop in time for red lights - for more info please view:  https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150315412721002&oid=253601681320395&comments .  Enforcement is not really feasible for this issue, as we are talking about many hundreds of trucks pouring down this route all day long and in my observation there is a 28% rate of disregard for lights and traffic rules - the city simply doesn't have the resources to manage a problem of that stature.  In my opinion it is simply a matter of time before there is a serious fatality on Nanaimo Street if Container Trucks are permitted to continue on this route.  I would hope that, as President and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, that you would be interested in protecting the interests of the Truckers you represent and therefore in discouraging Nanaimo Street as an appropriate route due to the imminent potential for danger that the trucks experience on this route.  

I am pleased to know that the BCTA are aware of and looking into this issue, and hope that you will join our group at:  safeeastv...@googlegroups.com and work with us to encourage the City of Vancouver and the Port to develop a sustainable, long-term solution to this problem that doesn't put residents or the truckers that you represent at risk.

Thank you,

Cynthia Farnsworth,

ACTORS Working Group member,

Lord Nelson Elementary School PAC Chair,

Local Resident and Parent