A group of residents dedicated to halting expansion of – and banning highway trucks on – 32 Avenue took their concerns to Metro Vancouver this week.
The 32nd Avenue Alliance – which opposes the City of Surrey’s plans to widen the road into four lanes from 154 to 160 streets – presented their arguments to the region’s environment and energy committee July 12.
The group said diesel exhaust from trucks that use the road is a health risk, and requested an environmental assessment be conducted of the air quality along the 32 Avenue corridor.
The delegation took issue with trucks being “jammed through a narrow opening in the heart of our high density residential neighbourhoods where no setbacks are provided.”
In their presentation, the group said trucks should instead use highways 10 and 15, which are “adequate and acceptable” highway truck routes with reasonable setbacks.
“The best practice management guidelines of the Ministry of Environment for the Province of B.C. for busy roads like 32 Avenue is 150 metres,” the alliance states.
“Surrey’s setbacks are 4.5 metres.”
The environment and energy committee directed staff to contact the minister of environment to clarify on the environmental best management practices regarding setbacks in urban areas for heavy-duty truck routes.