Dear Editor,
The proposed 124 Avenue road expansion is a typical example of a major public infrastructure project.
What residents need is meaningful communication from government; what government needs is to earn the trust of its residents.
Residents most directly affected by the proposed 124 Avenue road expansion have repeatedly asked the City of Maple Ridge to hold a small public meeting so that everyone can receive the same information at the same time and better understand the city’s plans.
The city’s response has been that each property is different and therefore discussions are being conducted one-on-one.
This raises a fundamental question.
If every property is different, why does the city believe a road expansion plan developed nearly 10 years ago still applies to all residents along the corridor today?
Ten years ago, the high-density developments, population growth, and changing traffic patterns did not exist the same as today. If the community has changed dramatically over the past decade, why should a decade-old planning assumption automatically remain valid?
More importantly, why were residents along the corridor not engaged in ongoing discussions during those 10 years?
Road expansion affects more than property lines, traffic counts, and engineering drawings. It affects neighbourhood character, noise levels, and the daily lives of the people who live there.
Residents are not asking to stop the project. Residents are asking for communication.
Residents want the opportunity to hear information that directly affects them, understand what the city is planning, how decisions are being made, and how residents’ concerns are being considered.
They do not want to be presented with a finished plan after key decisions have already been made.
A petition regarding 124 Avenue has already collected more than 200 signatures. This does not mean all residents oppose the project. It means many believe their concerns deserve to be heard.
Good government is not measured only by its ability to build infrastructure. It is also measured by its willingness to listen.
If residents are different, then there is even more reason to bring them together and discuss the issues openly.
Transparent communication is not a favour granted by government. It is an essential part of public service.
Joy Shen, Maple Ridge