For over 20 years the community, travelers and taxpayers of Prince George have been frustrated with the lack of a safe user-friendly southbound left turn access from HWY 97 into the VLA at Spruce, Victoria, and Ford streets in Prince George, B.C. (e.g. a safe user-friendly left-turn similar to the ones installed on the Highway at 18th Ave (CNC), Range road (Costco/Woodwheaton), for the Treasure Cove Casino, Recplace Drive, and many other places in the P.G. area).

In response to this demand, in the last seven years, two petitions have been submitted to the Ministry of Transportation. The first petition presented in 2001 was signed by 5500 people, while the second in March of 2008 was signed by 6000 people. Despite these two petitions, nothing yet has been done to build the safe user-friendly left turn lane.

Two top bureaucrats in the Ministry of Transportation, Shanna Mason, the Regional Director; and Rick Blixrud, the District Manager, have insisted that they need to receive more direct public input before they can act.

Time is of the essence. Crews for the $42 million Simon Fraser Bridge Twinning Project will soon be working in the area to widen and realign the highway, and this is a perfect opportunity to add this safe user-friendly left turn lane at a fraction of the cost that it would take at any other time.

Does somebody have to die before the Ministry will install a safe user-friendly left turn lane?

Dear Hon. Shirley Bond,

Re: Hwy 97 Left Turn Lane for your Veteran Land Act neighbourhood constituents in Prince George, B.C.

With the Opening of the new Simon Fraser Bridge on August 23, 2009, we wish to thank you for all your hard work as our MLA in bringing this impressive highway improvement project for the benefit of the residents, workers and visitors of Prince George and we look forward to IDL Projects Inc. total completion of this entire highway project later this fall.

Shirley, ever since you became our MLA and have been involved in the long standing matter of the public's request for a Hwy 97 Left Turn Lane to reduce driver frustration and improve basic access for thousands of residents, workers and visitors of the Veteran Land Act (VLA) neighbourhood, you have always maintained that this public improvement request was entitled to receive a fair hearing.  However, as you know, for whatever reason, since 2001, you have had to apply pressure every step of the way to try and get Ministry of Transportation (MoT) senior public servants to give the project a fair hearing and consideration.  For this support and effort we are grateful to you as our MLA.

Everyone is in agreement with the Minister of Transportation that safety must be the primary concern and that the project should only proceed if it meets industry standard traffic engineering/safety practice and requirements.  The internationally respected transportation safety expert (Chair of the Transportation Safety Council, ITE) ,  Russell G. Brownlee, B.Sc., M.A. Sc., FITE, P.Eng.,  from Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering (in Toronto) has shown that true scientific/engineering evidence clearly demonstrates that the left turn lane facility will operate at good levels of highway safety and service and we know that ever since the meeting you held at your office in December 2004 that you supported this public project being included with the Bridge Project because of the several hundred thousand dollars of taxpayer money that will be sensibly saved if it is completed with the Bridge Project (i.e. a cost of $500,000 if completed this fall by IDL Projects Inc. with the Bridge project verses ~$1,000,000 if it is done as a stand-alone project).

Shirley, in July 2009, we applied to the B.C. Supreme Court for an order that the Minister of Transportation's decision not to allow a left turn lane be quashed and that the matter be referred back to the Minister for reconsideration because it is evident that natural justice and truth are on our side.  We sincerely hope that you will closely examine the facts of the case which we have filed with the B..C. Supreme Court so that you can see the injustice that has occurred. 

We would not be taking this matter to court unless we were very confident that we will win on the grounds that: 1) defective and inappropriate evidence was accepted and cogent and appropriate evidence was ignored, and 2) that there is significant evidence clearly demonstrating bias or a reasonable apprehension of bias.

We write this letter in hopes of being able to appeal to your common sense and good judgement because it appears that stall tactics are being used to run the time out so that we cannot receive a fair Judicial Review hearing before IDL Projects Inc. completes the highway widening work for the new Bridge.

Freedom of Information records show that BC taxpayers have paid over $31,000 for the EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. Report (EBA Report) that the Minister's decision is based upon; however, this EBA Report was not duly sealed by any engineer as required by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC).  If the MoT Chief Engineer, the EBA report authors, and a traffic engineer from EBA Engineering haven't complied with BC law by duly sealing their respective engineering reports / documentation / letters, as required by APEGBC, does this not emphasize to you that there are serious problems with the EBA Report?  This appears to be a quiet but clear sign and statement that none of these engineers want to proclaim to the public that they are prepared to be held professionally accountable for their engineering work and advice to the Minister of Transportation.  Does the fact that over $31,000 of taxpayer money was paid to engineers for reports that appear to be in breach of BC law raise any red flags for you?

In September 2008 and in June 2009 we asked multiple MoT senior public servants numerous times to provide us with a duly sealed copy of the EBA Report, but to no avail.  On June 25, 2009 the MoT Chief Operating Officer, Dave Byng, responded by email to our last request and he stated, "The [EBA] report did not have an embossed stamp as it was sent electronically with digital signatures and electronic seal technology, which is approved by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC".  We have since learned from APEGBC that the authors of the EBA Report have not even obtained the APEGBC approved Digital Signature and Electronic Seal Technology.  Not only this, but APEGBC has confirmed that the digital seal technology was not made available to APEGBC members until after September 2008 (note: the EBA Report was completed in August 2008).

In an email earlier this year to Eldon Matte regarding truth, Shirley, you stated:

"I have been a publicly elected official for about 15 years. During that time and throughout the rest of my life whether public or personal, I have always believed that truth and integrity are key to how I live my life. I have worked hard to do that to the best of my ability. My track record speaks for itself - I work tirelessly on behalf of the people that elected me and I endeavour to do that with the values that characterize my life which was very much shaped by the wonderful family life I had. As I look at the experiences that I have had in public service, I believe that the vast majority of people who run for elected office do so for the right reasons and that the values that are important to me would be shared by them as well. Like most other elected representatives I try to be consistent and careful to reflect the truth in my comments and actions."

As our MLA and as the Minister of Transportation, we trust in your integrity and ask that you take this case very seriously.  There are simple matters (such as the above) that we believe you are able to get to the bottom of very quickly and which could lead to you discovering the truth of the matter in order for you to ensure that natural justice and truth will prevail quickly without an order from the court.  If this case does not receive a fair hearing before it is too late for IDL Projects Inc. to construct this project this fall with the Bridge Project completion, this will only add to the injustices already served to your constituents and taxpayers (residents, workers, visitors and employers) in this matter.

As a trustee of the common good, we trust that you will ensure: 1) that MoT senior public servants are held accountable for their actions 2) that MoT senior staff fulfill their entire Public Service Oaths and 3) that BC Laws are not being breached by the engineers you are choosing to rely on for professional advice.

While we understand that you prefer to not comment on this matter because legal proceedings are underway, we respectfully ask and urge you to please explore all your options and do what you can to help now in any way that you feel you are able to correct all of the injustices in this matter quickly before IDL Projects Inc. complete the highway widening work for the Bridge Project.

We are hoping to have a discussion soon with an APEGBC director to discuss the process for initiating complaints against the engineers who appear to be violating BC law and their APEGBC obligations.  Would you like to be a part of this discussion?

We hope to hear from you shortly and look forward to receiving your assistance to settle this case soon and amicably.

Again, we thank you for all of your hard work and for the impressive new $42 million Simon Fraser Bridge Project which is being completed on time and under budget by about 5 million dollars.

Yours truly,

LeftTurnNow.com - Community Action Group, LeftTurnNow@gmail.com
Eldon Matte, Director
Molly Kneeland, Director
Stuart Brown, Director  

More info at www.LeftTurnNow.com
Cc General Public, all MLA's & MP's, Media

In 2008, Prince George City Council, the local MLAs, the local MPs, over 6000 residents, workers, visitors and seven local VLA employers petitioned the Ministry of Transportation to include a safe, user-friendly Hwy 97 Left Turn Lane into the VLA at Victoria / Spruce / Ford Streets with the Simon Fraser Bridge Project.  The Ministry promised to construct the proposed project if it was scientifically proven that it would operate at normal levels of highway safety and service.  In August 2008, the Ministry of Transportation released an "independent" traffic study which appeared to indicate that the project would be unsafe.  As a result, the MoT decided to not proceed with the project.  In April 2009, Russell G.. Brownlee, B.Sc., M.A. Sc., FITE, P.Eng., who is an internationally respected transportation safety expert with Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering from Toronto, conducted a Peer Review of the Ministry’s "independent" 2008 traffic study and his analysis found significant deficiencies resulting in erroneous conclusions.  Mr. Brownlee also conducted a new independent transportation study using the most current data and this new study scientifically demonstrates that the Left Turn Lane will operate at a good level of highway safety and service both now and in the future. 
 
One key piece of basic evidence that is different in the two studies is that the "existing" opposing Northbound (NB) Hwy 97 peak hour traffic volume used by the MoT in their study last August is over 40% more than what actually exists at the Spruce/Hwy 97 intersection. The MoT’s “independent” engineers have not been able to provide Mr. Brownlee with any scientific/industry standard traffic engineering quantification for why their "independent" study used the inflated 1346 vehicles per hour (vph) as the "existing" opposing peak hour volume. They refused to accept the fact that Mr. Brownlee has correctly identified the design peak hour for the existing NB Hwy 97 traffic to be about 935 vph. 
 
LeftTurnNow.com - Community Action Group provided the Peer Review and the positive new transportation study to the Ministry of Transportation in April 2009.  However, as of June 25, 2009, the MoT Chief Engineer (who made the decision for the Ministry) still refused to accept that the Left Turn Lane into the VLA at Victoria / Spruce / Ford Streets will operate at good levels of highway safety and service.  
 
The Ministry of Transportation appears to have accepted defective evidence and ignored cogent evidence.  As a result, an application is being made to the B.C. Supreme Court for an order that the Ministry's decision not to allow a left turn lane be quashed and that the matter be referred back to the Minister for reconsideration.
 
The Judicial Review Application was filed in the B.C. Supreme Court on Friday, July 17, 2009, and is being brought forth jointly by Stuart Brown; (a resident of the VLA community), and P.G. Realty & Insurance Agency Ltd.; (a VLA property owner), on behalf of the thousands of residents, workers, visitors, and local VLA employers who petitioned the Ministry last year to include the safe, user-friendly left turn lane with the Bridge Project.

We hope our MLA, Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Transportation will discover the truth quickly, intervene in the case and approve the installation of the left turn lane. Significant money will be wasted if IDL Contractors finish construction on that section of Highway 97 and must redo the same work to install the left turn lane afterwards.

(NEW INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION STUDY RELEASED)

LeftTurnNow.com, the Community Action Group formed between residents workers and visitors of the VLA, expects Hon. Minister Kevin Falcon and Hon. Shirley Bond, MLA to uphold their promise made last summer to include the left turn lane project with the Simon Fraser Bridge Project.

The requested southbound left-turn lane on Hwy 97 into the Veteran Lands Act neighbourhood at Victoria & Ford Sts will not compromise highway safety or traffic flow and it will “operate at a good level of service under existing and future operating conditions" says a new independent transportation study conducted by Russell G.. Brownlee, B.Sc., M.A. Sc., FITE, P.Eng. with Giffin Koerth Forensic Engineering from Toronto http://www.giffinkoerth.com/ . Brownlee, who is also the Chairman of the Transportation Safety Council for the Institute of Transportation Engineers http://www.ite.org/councils/Safety/default.asp (an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals), was recently asked by the Community Action Group - LeftTurnNow.com to visit Prince George and do an independent traffic study and also conduct a Peer Review of the study commissioned last summer by the Ministry of Transportation.

Last spring and summer, over 6000 residents, workers & visitors of the Veteran’s Land Act neighbourhood, Prince George Mayor and Council, local MP’s, the three local MLA’s, local businesses and the NDP Transportation Critic MLA-Maurine Karagianis all asked Honourable Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation to include a left turn lane on Hwy 97 southbound with the Bridge Project.

While speaking to news reporters on July 7, 2008, Minister Falcon promised that he would introduce the new left turn lane if it is scientifically shown that it will not compromise traffic flow and highway safety. This latest Transportation Study and Peer Review clearly demonstrates that the left turn lane into the Veteran’s Land Act neighbourhood satisfies all of Minister Falcon’s conditions.

The directors of LeftTurnNow.com hope to meet in person with Minister Falcon and Hon. Shirley Bond right away to discuss the positive findings in the new study and to give him a copy of the Peer Review which reveals key deficiencies in the study done last summer.

“Russell Brownlee is an internationally recognized expert in Transportation Safety and Peer Reviews and his incontrovertible scientific findings prove that the Minister’s conditions have been satisfied.” said Sean Ollech, spokesperson for LeftTurnNow.com. "We believe that our MLA, Shirley Bond and Minister Kevin Falcon are people of their word. We expect her and the Minister to fulfill their promise to improve basic access and reduce driver frustrations for thousands of residents, workers and visitors of the Veteran’s Land Act neighbourhood by getting IDL Contractors to build the new left turn now with the Bridge Project” Sean Ollech continued, “The Bridge Project is well under budget, they have the money and the left turn is safe to do; no more excuses - it’s time they fulfill their promise and get it done!”

Click to download and view the new study.

LeftTurnNow.com Press Release Contact: Sean Ollech PH 250-612-2286 email LeftTurnNow@gmail.com