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Resident concerned about lack of sidewalk at Quatsino/Lahakas corner in Kildala area

A Kildala-area resident has raised concerns about the lack of sidewalks near the intersection of Lahakas and Quatsino Boulevards.
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This stretch of road at the Lahakas/Quatsino intersection has no public sidewalk

A Kildala-area resident has raised concerns about the lack of sidewalks near the intersection of Lahakas and Quatsino Boulevards.

Amy Da Costa wrote to the Mayor and Council, frustrated over what she deems as a “huge oversight”  that there are no pedestrian walkways down Quatsino from Lahakas, towards Columbia.

“The majority of this high occupancy area already travel, albeit unsafely, Quatsino around the corner to Lahakas to access the hospital, grocery stores, library and recreational activities,” she wrote. “This is because there is no straight forward walkway route like exists in other areas around town.”

She says that calls to the District on this matter only ended in history lessons about how sidewalks were never built to run along major routes, but behind homes for safety.

“I understand the history, but what I am hearing is that decisions that were made 60 years ago regarding Kitimat’s infrastructure are still valid today despite changes to populations, traffic, and neighbourhoods.”

In response, council moved to have the letter referred to the Advisory Planning Commission for comment, and to be referred to the 2014 budget process for later discussion.

“I think the letter we’ve received...it raises some good questions and I think that it is prudent that this be given significant thought and depending on what comes out of those discussions with the APC and where things fit in terms of our wishes for the 2014 budget, it is something that we should make sure we don’t forget,” said Mario Feldhoff, who put forward the motion.

He later added he’d like input from the Kitimat Heritage Walkway Group.

Further, Rob Goffinet said this issue of walkways is something he’d like to be included in any future discussions the town has regarding that portion of town, including with discussions regarding legacies with developer proponents.