Township council wants more information before making a decision on truck route changes in North Langley.
On June 11, council passed a motion from Coun. Angie Quaale that asks staff to make the truck route matter a priority, and to provide council with a report before the summer break begins on July 23. Councillors Petrina Arnason and David Davis were opposed.
In May of last year, the Township began an application to Translink to designate 216 Street from 88 Avenue to Highway 1 (at the new interchange) as a truck route, and 216 Street from Highway 1 to Highway 10, in order to receive Major Road Network (MRN) funding.
At the time, council also voted to remove several truck route designations from the Fort Langley area.
READ MORE: Walnut Grove residents push for truck ban on 216 Street
Quaale said her motion was based on concerns that council will be trying to jam everything into the final two meetings of their term.
“The motivation was around getting the appropriate information that is available to us sooner rather than later,” Quaale said.
“And then if we have decisions to make, or questions to ask or public hearings to schedule, we can start thinking about the next steps. But I’m anxious to get the information.”
Prior to council’s vote on Monday night, two Walnut Grove residents gave delegations voicing concerns about the motion.
Linda Nash and Nathan Jones — who have both publicly stated their objection to a truck route on 216 Street in Walnut Grove — were under the impression that the motion was asking council to make a decision on the truck routes before July 23.
Nash said she was concerned that council would be making a decision before having a public-hearing style meeting about the matter, and before a health impact assessment — being conducted by company Hemmera on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation — is completed.
She also said she was informed on Monday that Translink denied the Township’s request to remove truck routes in Fort Langley.
READ MORE: Walnut Grove residents present truck route petition to Township
“How is it possible to make an informed decision this quickly?” Nash asked. “An informed decision is based upon a clear understanding of the facts, the implications and future consequences of an action.”
Both Quaale and Mayor Jack Froese said the motion was to request a report from staff, not for the truck route bylaws to be made. The bylaw process would include a public hearing.
With respect to the truck routes in Fort Langley, Froese said council had not been made aware of any decision by Translink.
miranda@langleytimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter