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VOL. 27 NO. 27
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Gov’t promises overpass aid By JOSH MASSEY A SECOND vehicle overpass connecting the two sections of the city divided by CN tracks is still on Terrace city council’s wish list but it’s now concentrating on more immediate measures to improve the flow over the existing Sande Overpass which has become a bottleneck. Those measures, including a vehicle roundabout and new traffic signals, were discussed by council
members in a meeting last week with provincial transportation minister Todd Stone. “With respect to the Sande Overpass, my understanding is that local staff are working on some options,” said Stone. “We were just talking earlier today about how that could be a roundabout, a new traffic signal ... There is a number of configurations that could potentially work there and you have my commitment that we will bring these options for-
ward.” A vehicle roundabout features vehicles entering from and exiting to road connections via a large circle without the need for stop signs. The city has long lobbied for a second overpass, a situation now considered more important than ever given the increase in vehicle traffic because of existing economic development and the prospect of more people and more traffic should liquefied natural gas plant plans
ever solidify in the region. CN at one time had committed itself to helping with a second overpass, as had the federal government, and the city went so far as to commission a traffic study outlining options, but those plans were shelved. Councillor Lynne Christiansen said a plan for a pedestrian overpass should be included. “As a region, the transportation corridor, the [the Sande Overpass] is the bottleneck before you get to the coast. We have
to do something to separate foot traffic, local vehicles, and truck traffic,” she told Stone. Councillor Bruce Bidgood added afterwards that part of its discussion includes a possible bypass for larger vehicles. “There has been a switch in the conversation,” said Bidgood. “There is talk of improving the current overpass while still working on future plans for a second one.”
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Venue change idea fails to go through A REQUEST by a Kitimat-Stikine regional district director to hold its board meeting this Friday in a different location then normal has fallen through. Diana Penner, who represents the rural area north of Terrace and then south to Lakelse Lake and beyond, expects a large number of people to show up to oppose the board’s passing of a bylaw setting up a garbage and recycling pick up program carrying a mandatory annual fee of $200. “If you want to yell about something you’re passionate about, go ahead. It’s supposed to be a free country,” said Penner. The board room at the regional district office on Lazelle Ave. isn’t big enough for a large audience so Penner suggested the move. The same bylaw was to have been voted upon at the board’s September meeting and that prospect drew enough people that an overflow crowd had to gather outside of the regional district’s board room.
But the provincial environment minister had yet to sign off on the bylaw’s provisions, meaning it languished until it was approved, setting the stage for this Friday’s expected passage. Penner based her request for a move on a petition opposing the bylaw which now has more than 700 signatures. “To let the elected regional district board know that we are dissatisfied with their behaviour to the implementation of the bylaw, we all need to attend this meeting,” states a portion of the petition. Late last week, Penner said her attempts at a move, and even for a different day for the by-law vote, were dashed. Some directors said they could not attend on different day, she added. “No, it looks like all will proceed as normal. It has all fallen on the shoulders of the chair, and seems to have stopped there,” Penner said of regional district chair Bruce Bidgood.
Election coverage begins JOSH MASSEY PHOTO
■■ Market must go on THE SECOND to the last Skeena Valley Farmers Market offering of the season rolled out in the fall rains last Saturday. Here produce and egg vendor Michelle Pierce takes a break to warm up with a cup of hot coffee.
THE TERRACE Standard begins its Terrace municipal election coverage with profiles of council candidates on Pages A14, A5, A17 and A19. More profiles of council candidates as well as mayoral candidates will be published Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. And Terrace voters will have a chance to listen to and question council and mayoral hopefuls at a forum
being held Nov. 5 beginning at 7 p.m. at the REM Lee Theatre. The forum is being hosted by the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce and The Terrace Standard with the assistance of Terrace Toastmasters, the Skeena Valley Rotary Club, the BC Northern Real Estate Board, the REM Lee Theatre, CFNR, Bell Media and CityWest Cable 10.
Good hair day
Blockade ends
Good start
Woman gets head shaved after co-workers raise $10,000 \COMMUNITY A10
A group of Tahltan have stopped their blockade of the Red Chris mine \NEWS A22
The Terrace River Kings start the 2014/2015 CIHL season off looking sharp \SPORTS A27