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Quality of life is reduced by noisy, speeding traffic

Editor: Dwayne Weidendorf’s editorial “Shake your head moments on the road” (The Times, Dec. 17) brings to mind that there are, at last count, 76  neighbourhoods in the Township that have applications before the transportation engineering department for traffic calming initiatives.

These neighbourhoods endure high traffic speeds and noise levels aggravated by hard accelerations, knobby truck tires and resonators on mufflers.

At the end of the day, residents’ quality of life has been significantly reduced.  And this is not just about moments, but goes on day after day, week after week.

There is some respite when schools are closed for holidays and summer vacation.

In October, 2013, the Township hosted an economic forum, at which one of the topics was developing a livable, walkable Langley.

I appreciate that the topic was directed at the development industry, but I suggest that the Township look at initiatives to make the developed Langley more livable, walkable, cycling friendly and that is to address the 76 outstanding requests in a more proactive way, rather than simply financing two traffic calming projects a year.

Traffic enforcement with only seven traffic officers on duty at a time in a large municipality such as Langley is a challenge. Speedwatch programs are primarily aimed at high crash areas.

Perhaps time to consider bringing back the one thing that speeders hate —  whining that it’s a cash grab — and that is speed cameras in school and park zones.

These neighbourhoods deserve the same relative quiet enjoyed by those fortunate enough to live on streets with low traffic speeds.

I’m sure their taxes are not adjusted to cover off the inconvenience of high traffic noise and speeds.

John Evanochko

Langley Township