Correspondence: Email from Jocelyn Skrlac regarding Atkins Road Park & Ride Proposal
Correspondence from a resident expressing concerns over air pollution and the expansion of the Atkins Road Park & Ride facility.
From: JOCELYN SKRLAC Sent: Monday, February 8, 2021 9:32 PM To: Mayor And Council Email mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca Subject: Park & Ride Proposal, Atkins Rd, View Royal
Dear Mayor Screech and Councillors,
The Town of View Royal is a key municipality in the transportation system of commuters between the City of Victoria and all points west. It saddens and offends me that our township has no seat at the table of the Transit Commission where so many transit matters that affect the daily lives of the people of View Royal are discussed. The proposed development and expansion of the Atkins Road Park & Ride site is a perfect example of this arrogant attitude towards the citizens of View Royal.
Living as we now are in a time declared “a climate emergency” the lack of foresight shown by the recent purchase and introduction of LNG buses instead of electric buses has revealed a blatant disregard for air pollution reduction as well as a lack of caring for the residential health of the places these buses travel.
I understand that there is now a proposal to expand a parking area on Atkins Road to accommodate more parking spaces for the vehicles of park’n ride commuters. These vehicles will very likely belong to people from other municipalities beyond View Royal and will add further pollution to the locale.
My questions to Council are:
- How many vehicles are intended to be accommodated in this parking space?
- Is it fair to View Royal residents that we must endure even more air pollution in our community from the vehicles of people driving from their more populous municipalities to park their gas guzzler cars in our municipality?
- Is my impression, namely that View Royal is seen by the Transit Commission as a mere “drive through” municipality whose residents’ health and welfare rights should be jeopardized to better serve the convenience of other municipalities’ residents, correct?
- If such is the case, has the Town ever given serious consideration to finding compromises and deterrents to change such situations so as to better protect the health of its residents from regularly being exploited by commuters from outside our town?
- Has the Town ever seriously considered forming its own task force to study this situation and others that are directly affecting our local climate and compromising our wellbeing?
An emergency is not something we react to when or if we can find the time to do so. Emergencies require immediate actions and reactions. Our current climate emergency requires prompt actions to lower emissions, mitigate further air pollutants. There are more progressive longterm solutions available than those currently being offered by the Transit Commission towards View Royal and now is the time that we all need to seriously start working towards them with greater focus and determination.
Yours truly,
Jocelyn Skrlac
501-288 Eltham Rd View Royal