Say “NO TO TRUCKS” on 216th Street!

Keep Walnut Grove a peaceful place to live, and please SIGN THIS PETITION and PASS IT ON TO THOSE WHO HAVENT SIGNED IT YET to have the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) and Township of Langley (TOL) engage our community and remove 216th Street, north of Hwy 1, as a truck route. The MoTI and TOL are planning a 4 lane interchange at Hwy 1 and 216th Street with full on and off ramp capabilities. The new interchange is to support growth on the south side of Hwy 1 in a new subdivision called Williams Park, currently in the planning stage with TOL. This interchange will drive unwanted trucks into the pristine North Langley residential community of Walnut Grove. The TOL has started the process of removing the truck routes in Fort Langley in favour of establishing a truck route along 216th Street, north of Hwy 1. By their own information, this will see an increase in truck traffic going through Walnut Grove to connect with the Golden Ears Bridge, Port Kells and the South Perimeter Road. Show your support by taking the following actions: 1) Write Letters to the Editors of the Two Local Papers. We must show that this is a community issue and not an issue of a couple of residents along 216th Street. We need to be engaged in protecting the health and safety of all children. We should be protecting the health and safety of those members of our neighbourhoods who live along 88th and 96th Avenues as well. Submit your letters to: http://www.langleyadvance.com/submitletters/, and http://www.langleytimes.com/submitletters/ 2) Write Letters to Translink Denouncing the Plan. The TOL requires the permission of Translink to remove a truck route designation. Let Translink know what you think about the changes being proposed by the Township of Langley bureaucracy. Email board@translink.ca 3) Contact the NDP and Green Party. Let them know we are counting on them to help the environment and the people of Langley. Expanding the truck route system through residential neighbourhoods and past two schools is not responsible government action and they may be able to stop it. Green Party: Email infor@bcgreens.ca or call 1-888-473-3686. NDP Party: info@bcndp.ca or call 604-430-8600. 4) Keep the Pressure on Your Local Politicians. Ensure your voice is heard – we may be ignored if they think that the opposition is just a small group of people. We need to show that Walnut Grove cares about the people in the community. Email mayorcouncil@tol.ca 5) Talk to Your Neighbours. Not everyone knows about the proposed truck route. If they want to know more or ask what can be done, please refer them to the website http://no216interchange.com. If your neighbors support the interchange, please mention the negative impacts a truck route will have on our schools, children, your property values, and costs you may incur to attempt to sound proof your home. 6) Hang “No Trucks” Signs on Your Property. Demonstrate your opposition to a truck route on 216th Street. The signs may get taken down. However, you can put them up again. Here’s some additional information to support your actions: 1) At the same time the 216th interchange is being built, there will be an additional westbound off ramp at 200th Street northbound. This will double the existing capacity for trucks to use 200th Street northbound, and reduce the need for trucks on 216th. 2) The existing 192nd interchange will be enhanced to a full interchange with a westbound off ramp. However, there is no ETA for this project. A 4-way interchange at 192nd and Hwy 1 is the best alternative to the 200th interchange. Truck traffic can easily access Port Kells, the Golden Ears Bridge, and points west on the South Perimeter ring road to 176th north foot industrial park, and cargo ships at Deltaport. 3) Trucks will result in severe noise and air pollution impacts to residents and schools lining the west and east sides along 216th Street between Hwy 1 and 96th Avenue. If you need help writing letters or carrying out any other ideas you may have to STOP THIS TRUCK ROUTE there are many of us who can help you. Just contact us through our Google groups forum. WalnutGroveLangley@googlegroups.com. Thanks for signing the petition and ensuring our community is engaged with a complete transportation plan before the interchange design is completed. Please help to keep Walnut Grove a great place to live. You can make a difference. For more information on the 216th St. Interchange and to share your feedback directly with the MoTI, refer to - http://engage.gov.bc.ca/highway1and216/