A summary of ROUTES and what MOTI is moving forward…

Option 3 on map in purple -did not make the cut.

Hwy 97 task force had recommended Option 3, preliminary studies screened as possible yet was removed and instead AR-4 which clearly was not to advance made the cut.

How could this happen?

MOTI has shortlisted 3 options. (1 existing route and 2 alternate routes - See below)

Although Study and Planning Phase 1 is complete, YOUR engagement in this decision is of vital importance. It is time to write letters to to voice your concerns.

It is not over till, it is over. Shovels are not in the ground, Additional planning is still in the works.

Peachland Transportation Study

Email:peachland97study@gov.bc.ca       #300 – 1358 St. Paul St. 
Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E1

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI)

PO Box #9850  STN PROV GOVT. 
Victoria, BC V8W 9T5

Local Government

Attention: Dan Ashton / Dan Albas 

Existing Route or ER-A

Existing Route - 4 lanes to be placed in the current location of Highway 97. Road hugs the lake and cuts right through Peachland. Affects between 105- 120 properties along route. (Includes taking out Mobile Park at south end of town with realignment)

For a larger view click on images

Traffic lights added, some road changes and closures. Stop and go through townsite. Construction will disrupt entire town for 3-5 years. Anywhere from 105 to 120 homes or properties will be affected with route.

Still NO alternate route to bypass.

How will our community survive in this time period?

Can we afford this disruption?

Will the end results be what is required to sustain our growing community as traffic increases?

Will our community have area to grow or will we remain a small community bisected and cut off?

Why we believe a BYPASS is the OPTION to take;

Studies in other areas which have experienced similar issues with regard to highway construction indicate that the community and its businesses benefit over the long term when a bypass is constructed. (Click here to read article)

While most of the studies have been completed are from the United States, our fellow British Columbia towns such as Parksville and Qualicum Beach represent communities which have benefited from bypass construction.

Imagine what those communities would be like if the larger Island Highway had been forged through Qualicum or Parkland on original route.

MOTI SUMMARY on Existing Route or Option ER-A (taken from report)

Is the least expensive of the three existing route options.

Provides the least amount of benefits in terms of travel time savings and mobility

Decreases road safety due to the increased speeds and widened highway

Creates some highway access and intra-community connectivity issues in the northern portion of the corridor due to the changes in the permitted movements of several intersections.

Significant property impacts at the Princeton Avenue Interchange and potentially some environmental issues due to the proximity to the lakeshore.

Creates some highway access issues in the southern portion of the corridor (Antlers Beach area) due to the short realignment of the highway.

BOTTOM LINE (taken from report)

By 2040, the level of service is expected to drop to LOS E for much of the corridor in the PM peak hour.

At LOS E, driving can be frustrating with drivers spending 80% or more the time following and with the average travel speed dropping to under 65 km/h. This means that even small increases in traffic will create congestion, and the number of hours per year that congestion is experienced will increase.

And their finding…

Based on the outcome of the multiple account evaluation and the key findings above, it is recommended that Option ER-A be taken forward for further consideration as part of Phase II of the Highway 97 Peachland Transportation

The current route should serve as an important artery into our community. We do not need a four lane freeway through our town.

Now for ALTERNATE ROUTES Analysis and Maps

click image to print and view

AR-5 or AR-C , Option 5 in map above , Option 3B below

(indicated by the ORANGE route on map)

Description — Starts at Trepanier underpass. It then climbs up alongside Pincushion Mountain top within 100 M of condo development (see image 1 below)

Just west of Seymour Avenue the route continues directly south crossing at Princeton Avenue near Vernon Street then cutting through some developments (see image 2 below) and crossing the creek near Hardy Street (see image 5 below) to connect back to Highway 97.

A 6.0 kilometre section from the north end runs along undeveloped land and forest while the rest of the route to the south will have a significant section running through private properties and developed lands. This route also crosses several existing roads including Princeton Avenue, Elliot Avenue, Vernon Avenue and private access roads.

AR-4 or Option 3A Option 4 in map above(modification from AR-5 or AR-C with a swing around at south end of town)

(shown on map as red)

Connects at the north-end with Highway 97C at the existing Trepanier underpass. The alignment continues southeast first and then towards the south climbing up alongside Pincushion Mountain top within 100 M of condo development (see image 1 below)

This route is the same as AR-5 above until just north of Seymour Avenue where it turns right and crosses through the "saddle" between the peaks north of Law Street then crosses Princeton Avenue near McDougald Road ( see image 3 below ).

  The last 3.5 kilometers crosses the valley south of Princeton Avenue, and then continues alongside of the adjacent slope to connect to Highway 97 south of Hardy Street ( see image 5 below ).

Taken from MOTI Study

All alternate route options provide marginal benefits, which are largely accrued on the existing route due to a slight diversion in traffic to the alternate route.

It should be noted that due to the lack of diversion of traffic from the existing route to this alternate route, many of the underlying traffic safety and operations issues along the existing Highway 97 corridor remain.

As such, further consideration of this alternate route option is required to encourage use of the alternate route.

Therefore, prior to Option AR-C (AR-5) being advanced to Phase II, the option was subjected to further refinements. These refinements encompass both technically-driven refinements to further confirm the scope of the design concept as well as the refinements resulting from engagement with the key study stakeholders and Indigenous groups.

QUESTION:

Why is AR-3 removed from moving forward when analysis shows it acceptable?

Phase II

(taken from study)

It is acknowledged that without an increase in anticipated traffic diversion away from the existing route and towards the alternate route, there may also be a need to expand the scope of the alternate route option(s) to include focused improvements along the exiting highway corridor to address the remaining identified deficiencies. These potential focused improvements to the existing route will be identified in Phase II.

3 options and Even at this stage it is evident that the options taken forward will have marginal improvements.

VISION is what is needed