November6, 2006. . .Two open houses, one on highway improvements within Whistler's boundaries, followed by Sea to Sky Air Quality, have been deliberately scheduled to overlap, so that residents and stakeholders need only make one trip to review and comment on plans that will impact the air they breath.
The overlapping open houses are on Tuesday, November 14 at the Delta Whistler Suites in adjoining meeting rooms (Whisky Jack and Raven). The transportation planning open house is from 5 to 7:30 while the air quality open house is from 6 to 8 p.m., with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
To view the highway improvement recommendations, click here. To download the comment form on highway improvements, click here.
While the focus of the transportation study is on the 16 short listed recommendations for improving highway transportation within the resort community, the overall objective is to reduce traffic and congestion on highway 99, thereby improving air quality, as stated in Whistler2020 and in the Comprehensive Transportation Strategy. Recommendations range from improved intersections and left turn lanes to designated bike lanes.
The draft Sea to Sky Air Quality Plan, a regional, collaborative action plan for protecting air quality in the Sea to Sky airshed, includes a 20-year vision, goals for 2025, 18 actions and an implementation and monitoring plan.
The Sea to Sky corridor includes the communities along the eastern and western shores of Howe Sound, such as parts from Pemberton to West Vancouver, Gibsons, Langdale and Bowen Island.
Although the corridor currently enjoys relatively clean, healthy air, trends are showing that if we don?t start to plan to protect our air it may begin to impact our health and the environment. In fact, last summer an air quality advisory was issued in Squamish. Poor air quality is caused by releases of air contaminants primarily from the burning of fossil fuels. Industrial processes also release air contaminants but there are few large industries in the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Therefore, the Sea-to-Sky AQMP focuses mostly on transportation and space heating.
Public feedback on both plans is desired. The transportation plan and public feedback form will be available on our website later this week, so please check back.
To view the Sea to Sky Air Quality plan and provide feedback prior to the open house, visit www.seatoskyairquality.ca.
For more information on either open house, contact Emma Dal Santo, TDM Planner of the Resort Municipality of Whistler at 604-935-8197, email:edalsanto at whistler.ca
