Public Safety
Most public safety issues fall under Provincial jurisdiction. However, the County has a role to play. As our urban neighbours expand and more people move to the County, safety on our roads and in our own homes becomes an increasing concern.
For the past seven years, I have been a member of our local chapter of Rural Crime Watch and am currently serving as its President. Rural Crime Watch is a volunteer run non-profit with free membership that addresses what we can do to keep ourselves from becoming a victim of crime.
Public safety on the roads is an issue I am hearing about with increasing frequency. These concerns focus on both County roads and provincial highways, intersection safety, and the increasing volume of truck traffic using these roads.
I have actively advocated for the County to lobby the Province to put traffic lights at the intersection of Lochend Rd and Highway 1A. This intersection is problematic, and many of its users are County residents. While the Province has been slow to respond, the County recently received confirmation that they are willing to share in both engineering costs and signalization installation. After additional county pressure, the Province has also committed to installing a roundabout at the intersection of highways 22 and 567.
Locally, the County will be widening Burma Rd (similar to Bearspaw Rd) and installing a traffic circle at the Burma Rd / Bearspaw Rd intersection. This is in response not only to traffic volume but an increase in accidents at that intersection. The larger stop signs and flashing red lights are not sufficient.
With regard to truck traffic, many of the trucks on our roads are from gravel pits. I have tirelessly campaigned for identified haul routes for all truck traffic. The Aggregate Resource Plan, one of my proudest initiatives, was recently approved and includes provisions requiring new gravel pits to identify haul routes and for gravel pit development permits to include haul route commitments. Haul routes improve safety for truck drivers and the general public. Identified routes means safer intersections. If re-elected, you can be sure I will continue to push for increased safety measures.
On October 20th, vote Samanntha Wright for Division 4 Councillor, Rocky View County!