Editor:
Council endorsed Delta’s Cycling Master Plan in 2023 to provide a well-connected, complete cycling network along 56th St. to Highway 17.
So far public input has been limited, but recently, three municipal employees met on site with a group of interested local individuals. The meeting was instructional, cordial and fair.
The main issue with the initial proposal was the narrowness of the land to accommodate 3.5mtr Multi use path and to protect the existing trees.
If the pathway is built parallel to 56th St. and using the municipal employees’ footprint figures of approximately 20ft from the curbside, approximately 60 to 70 trees would be felled. Noting that several trees namely cedar would be felled anyway due to stress, disease and age.
There was talk of meandering the pathway, but I would suspect, a loss of more trees.
As I see it, the proposal is doable, but with an estimated cost of $1.3M and part funding from Translink, one must consider if this is money well spent on a pathway which now, is not overly subscribed.
Ideas and options are still being entertained.
Rodney Asher
