Oh, for heaven's sake!
Who thinks of these idiotic, ludicrous ideas?
A roundabout for one hour a day congestion?
Can that even be called congestion?
The District of Coldstream wants to install a roundabout at Kalamalka and Kidston Roads, besotted with the fact that a grant is available from the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program.
The program's detail is: "Grants up to $10,000 are available to help improve or develop long-term comprehensive plans that include, but are not limited to: capital asset management plans, community energy plans, integrated stormwater management plans, water master plans and liquid waste management plans."
Who thinks a roundabout is "infrastructure", especially in a community of only ~10,000 people!
Nobody I've talked to!
Fortunately Councillor Peter McClean doesn't think so either, saying the roundabouts he sees in Vernon leave something to be desired; this one at 32nd Avenue: https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=32nd+Avenue,+Vernon,+BC&hl=en&ll=50.265317,-119.262207&spn=0.000856,0.002642&sll=50.270134,-119.259386&sspn=0.000855,0.002642&t=h&hnear=32+Ave,+Vernon,+British+Columbia&z=19&layer=c&cbll=50.265317,-119.262207&panoid=8_HcLumi3e-3j6_DZDKbTw&cbp=12,301.39,,0,16.9
Even Councillors Guyla Kiss and Maria Besso--in decidedly lucid moments--aren't convinced a roundabout is necessary.
Consider what the provincial grant (money from our taxes) could be used for--authentic infrastructure like replacement of aging waterlines and water pumps, or the District's much-touted and needed improvements to stormwater and drainage.
What a bunch of nonsense...Coldstream congestion.
"Maybe indigestion," suggests Kia, "just more gas from Coldstream."
Edit: So where did the roundabout idea originate? Discussion between the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Mayor Garlick, and the Chief Administrative Officer at the 2012 Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention.
Councillors Besso and Kiss, the only councillors to regularly frequent that intersection from the Kidston side, are opposed to even proceeding with the $26k study (only $10k is supported by a grant). They were defeated (a motion made by Besso) in their efforts by the other 5 votes , including Councillor McClean . This ranks near the top of "stupid wastes of money and time", and I'm amazed that the majority of Council didn't help to shut the staff down on this one! A couple of idle staff doing traffic counts a key hours at this and other intersections, along with automatic counters, and some accident statistics , should tell you all you need to know. I know of no one who has expressed frustration with this intersection!
ReplyDeleteRoundabouts...traffic lights...certainly fly in the face of Rural Living at Its Best (Coldstream's motto).
DeleteThis Council needs to put its collective foot on the throats of staff, and remind them to not waste taxpayers' (and council's) time and money.
A few people I've talked to state "the problem" is "SUV moms running late for their pedicures", which may be a snarky knee-jerk reaction, but maybe they've got a point.
Whatever happened to people leaving 5 minutes earlier to drop kids off at school, or for appointments in town?
The whole world has to change (supposedly) because they're tapping their fingers while sitting fourth at a stop sign.
Leave the intersection as it is.