Ministry of Transportation and Transit to carry out a safety and operations review of Nanoose Flats

Dear All, 

I have two updates. The first is that our petition was featured on CBC and also included in broadcast coverage on Radio-Canada last week: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nanoose-petition-highway-fatalities-9.7331783

Second, I received correspondence from MLA Stephanie Higginson's office as follows: 

"I am reaching out to share a positive update on this issue. Thanks to you and the many community members who have reached out to share concerns and call for a review of this section of Highway 19, we just confirmed with Ministry staff this morning that they have agreed to initiate an Operations and Safety Review for Highway 19!

This review will cover the areas through the Nanoose Flats area, with the goal being to identify any items that may be appropriate to improve safety and reliability through this corridor. This review has only just been initiated and therefore there are no timelines yet set for completion, but the ministry understands the importance of this work and will work diligently to complete our review efficiently so that any improvements can be properly considered and subsequently implemented as needed.

Once again, I want to say how much we appreciate your advocacy on this matter, and I want you to know that we have been sharing every email that our office receives on this issue with senior staff at the Ministry, along with sharing your petition that helped demonstrate the amount of local support behind this call to action.

MLA Higginson and our office will remain in close contact with Ministry staff as they undertake this review and once the review is complete, we will reach out to anyone who has contacted us on this issue, to provide the final outcome of the review. "

This MOTT review is due to your collective work advocating for better safety parameters on Highway 19, and hopefully will help prevent future tragedies. 

I remain hopeful about the outcome, and this issue will surely be of relevance for the incoming Board of Directors of the RDN following October's BC municipal election. 

I will keep collecting signatures to this petition -- and will keep updating you all as we hear more about the timelines for the review.  Do keep reaching out to your representatives with constructive insights on what you feel we need to improve our situation here -- as community members, you are experts on your day-to-day experience travelling our roads. 

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy for our community!

• Zoe Todd, petition starter