Transportation woes in overdrive
Completion of ring road seen as critical to easing traffic congestion in area
With the exit of two-term Coun. Richard Pootmans, it’s a crowded yet wide-open race in Ward 6.
And the route to succeeding him could go straight to hastening the start to the west portion of Calgary’s ring road, said Maureen Smith, president of the Strathcona Christie Aspen Community Association.
The last piece of the ring road puzzle not yet under construction, to connect Highway 8 to the Trans-Canada Highway, is desperately needed to tackle the traffic pressures of increasing population density in the war, she said.
“Without the ring road, it’ll be a bit of a nightmare … right now, everything is going to be funnelled through 17th Avenue,” she said.
Some in the ward are also concerned about the impacts of nearby gravel and asphalt plants that are feeding construction of the southwest ring road nearby, she said.
Candidate Steve Turner says he’s hearing similar comments.
“One of the main issues is the construction and completion of the ring road, including noise and dust mitigation,” said Turner, whose background is journalism and marketing.
Adding his voice to the call for a ring road to bust through growing gridlock is Ward 6 hopeful Jeff Davison.
“The city needs to be relentless in getting the province to make a commitment and see it through,” said Davison.
On top of that, upgrades are needed on Bow Trail, 85th Street and 17th Avenue S.W., said the corporate marketing strategist.
One of his rivals, Jeff Brownridge, cited increased fears over cyclist and pedestrian safety, but the discussion again came back to the long-awaited major road project.
“There’s a desire for better public consultation on projects like the southwest ring road,” said businessman Brownridge.
Rising above seven other candidates in the race takes commitment and good listening, said teacher Grace Nelson.
“You have to concentrate on the campaign and on the people, you have to listen to what residents want,” said Nelson.
One of the things they want, she said, is completion of the ring road and other road projects, the latter of which are diverting large traffic volumes down normally quiet streets.
Because of that, “we need more road safety, whether it’s more traffic signals, signs or tickets,” said Nelson.
Ward 6’s new councillor can’t be reactive to local issues like probable community disruption from new sections of the ring road under construction, said Alex Columbos.
“I believe we need to have proactive leadership prior to the issues just arriving or being solved in a reactive fashion,” said Columbos, a corporate manager.
“This is what I have done effectively in business and what I will bring to council.”
Seven-year Ward 6 denizen Esmahan Razavi said her background in mediation would help bond what’s been a divided city council.
Less rancour, she said, would help tackle issues in her area of special concern, including streets made unsafe by speeding motorists and a shortage of pedestrian crossings.
“Residents are concerned that traffic issues may not be fixed until someone is seriously hurt,” said Razavi, adding tax hikes are another common lament.
“Through decreasing the burden placed on residents and small business while maintaining quality services … and reducing red tape, we can make our ward and city a better place to live for everyone.”
Candidate Sanjeev Kad said people in the ward are fed up with the noise and dust kicked up by construction in new areas.
They also want a solution to the secondary suites impasse and safer traffic flow, he said.
But a motivation to run, even in such a crowded field, was the conduct of city councillors themselves, said Kad, who figured it was time to literally put up or shut up.
“At one point I said to myself either I have to do something about it or keep my mouth shut,” said entrepreneur Kad.
“I decided to do something about it because I believe in the potential of our big, bold, beautiful city.”
Retailer-social worker Sean Yost didn’t return calls but on his campaign website, Yost lists his top priority as better public consultation.
“Why does it always feel like the decision has already been made? It is time to start listening to Calgarians,” he stated.