Have your say on highway concerns

If you have any questions about winter driving on the North coast, Wednesday night will be when you could get the most information in one place on the issue.

The Ministry of Transportation, ICBC and the RCMP will be hosting an information session at the Crest on Wednesday night, from 7:30 to 9 p. m.

Road conditions and the way they are approached in the winter seems to be the main aspect of the evening’s discussion, though it seems to be a rather informal affair so perhaps other concerns regarding winter travel can be addressed as well.

We suspect however that asking about such things as the location of radar enforcement zones and Christmas road check locations might raise an arched eyebrow from the panel, likewise suggesting you all get together for a night cap in the lounge might be a little against the topic of the road safety of the night.

The Daily news featured details on the session planned for Wednesday in Monday’s paper.

Highway safety concerns drive call for meeting to air the issues
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Monday, November 26, 2007
Pages one and three

The Ministry of Transportation, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and RCMP are inviting the public to have their say on winter road conditions in the Northwest.

"There's some sentiment on our part that we should be talking to the public about what we are doing, what ICBC is doing, what the RCMP are doing and what the maintenance guys are doing to make sure we deal with winter the best possible way and encourage drivers to do the same," said Don Ramsay, district manager for the Ministry of Transportation.

The groups will be hosting a public forum in Prince Rupert Wed., Nov. 28, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Crest Hotel. Representatives from the three groups will speak about their roles and responsibilities in promoting winter safety on Highway 16 as well as answer questions.

“We will be talking about staying prepared and driving appropriately in winter conditions,” said Ramsey.

This is third in a series of presentations. Other forums took place earlier this month in Kitimat and Terrace.

“We have had a number of complaints, not many from Prince Rupert, but in the Northwest in general there have been a lot of concerns after last year’s extremely difficult winter,” he said.
“We set all kinds of snowfall and rainfall records, records for how many times we crossed the freezing mark, up and down.

Road conditions around the Northwest last year prompted city councilors to bring the issue forward at the North Central Municipal Association’s annual general meeting.

The Northwest Highway Watchdog Committee put out the petition to call for improved snow-clearing and winter maintenance of Northwest highways because the road conditions this winter, particularly between Smithers and Terrace, were dangerous endangering commercial traffic and the general public alike, the committee said. Snow was going uncleared for hundreds of kilometers and icy roads were not being salted or sanded.

They received 7,000 signatures from around the Northwest.

The calls for action included the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District asking the North Central Municipal Association to write to the Minister of Transportation requesting a review of road maintenance classification specifications in order that roads and highways receive adequate levels of service to ensure that they remain open and safe for communities, businesses, and the traveling public.

And the District of Kitimat asked the North Central Municipal Association to urge the Government of British Columbia to ensure sufficient funding is available to provide an adequate service, and to ensure an appropriate transparent process of both performance and financial auditing is instituted to ensure that proper performance is delivered.