PETITION: Remove Duke Street West From the Truck Route
To: City of Saint John – Public Works Department Mayor and Common Council Ward 3 Councillors

We, the residents of Duke Street West, Lancaster Avenue, and the surrounding neighbourhoods, request immediate action to protect our residential community from heavy container truck traffic.

Why We Are Concerned
Duke Street West is a residential street with homes, children, seniors, and pedestrians. It is not built to handle the weight, vibration, or volume of container trucks.

Heavy trucks using this street as a shortcut between the Port and Route 1 have caused:

Serious road damage, including failing catch basins
Vibrations affecting nearby homes
Safety risks for children, pedestrians, and cyclists
Noise and air pollution
Ongoing non‑compliance with routing commitments from transport operators
Residents have raised these concerns many times, but the problem continues.

Why Removing Duke Street West Works
Duke Street West and Lancaster Avenue form one continuous road. If Duke Street West is removed from the designated truck route, then:

Container trucks can no longer use the corridor as a shortcut
Ferry‑bound trucks can still access the terminal as intended
The neighbourhood is protected without disrupting legitimate ferry operations
This is a simple, practical fix that matches how the street is actually used.

What We Are Asking For
We, the undersigned, request that the City of Saint John:

Remove Duke Street West from the designated truck route, recognizing that it is a residential street not suitable for container trucks.
Restrict container trucks on Lancaster Avenue, allowing only ferry‑bound trucks or emergency detours when Route 1 is unavailable.
Enforce routing commitments with proper signage and monitoring.
Install temporary 40 km/h signage and traffic calming to improve safety while changes are made.
Repair the damaged sections of Duke Street West, including failing catch basins and the road base.
Provide a public update on the truck route review and the timeline for these changes.
Why This Matters
This neighbourhood is home to families, seniors, and children. It is unsafe and unfair for a residential street to be used as an industrial shortcut. Removing Duke Street West from the truck route is the most effective way to protect our homes, our safety, and our community.