We the undersigned residents Petition the City of Surrey and Surrey Schools as follows:

We are in agreement with building Snokomish Elementary School but NOT in agreement with plans to construct “optimally designed Pick-up and Drop-off (PUDO) facilities” on 148 Street north of 58 Avenue in Surrey as proposed by Keith Broersma, Planner, City of Surrey.

We believe the location for Snokomish Elementary School is appropriate for Surrey’s first WALKING SCHOOL, and that construction of the planned Pick-up and Drop-off road system should be postponed for two school years after construction of the school is completed. This will allow our neighborhood to encourage and develop a walking school program, which we believe is vital to a sustainable neighborhood community. The chosen location is central between four existing elementary schools, all of which are plagued with traffic gridlock every school day.  In addition, the PUDO preferred option with the entry on 148 Street and exit on 58 Avenue is negatively impacting our community. 

·       Traffic congestion on 144, 146, 148 Street, 57, 58, 59, 60 Avenue & the adjoining streets.

·       Safety Concerns (proximity to park) - Pedestrians, runners, bikers, dog walkers, skateboarders, children from Daycare facilities – all required to interact with hundreds of vehicles daily.

·       Loss of Recreational Space for neighborhood originally promised and provided by Surrey Parks.

·       Proposed road will be in very close proximity (approximately 1m) from one residential home at 14701 on 58 Ave.

Designs of schools of the future must be sensitive to Climate Change and to Increasing Population Density and corresponding Traffic Density. Therefore, driving children to school must be discouraged where possible, while making allowances for children who must be driven to school.

This neighborhood is committed to providing any necessary volunteer participation to ensure the success of a Walking School Program. In the unlikely event the program should fail, Surrey Schools can construct the planned PUDO facilities after the two-year trial has ended.

For more info on the Walking School Bus Program http://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/helpful-resources/walking-school-bus-wsb-program-active-transport/