Frankly Speaking

Frank Bucholtz photo Federal infrastructure minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced on Thursday that the federal government will commit to providing $108 million of the $235 million total cost to upgrade Highway 1 to six lanes between 216 and 264 Streets in Langley. Other funding partners are the B.C. government, represented by Premier John Horgan and Transportation Minister Claire Trevena at the ceremony, and the Township of Langley, represented by Mayor Jack Froese. At long last, the NDP government has committed to follow through with a project announced by their predecessors - at least a portion of the project. In March, 2017, the BC Liberal government announced it would widen Highway 1 from four to six lanes as far east as Whatcom Road in Abbotsford. A day afterwards, former transportation minister Todd Stone told CHNL Radio in Kamloops on that the project was “tender-ready” back then. Two years later, the province has announced the widening from 216 to 264 Streets, at...

Frank Bucholtz photo A stump is all that remains of a mature cedar tree that stood on property owned by Tara Ridge Estates. This is a very brief post. Time is pressing and I simply don't have enough of it to study all aspects of this issue, which I just learned of yesterday. A large grove of mature trees has been cleared from property owned by Tara Ridge Estates, adjacent to 76 Avenue in Willoughby. The northwest portion of this site (about eight hectares) is being proposed for exclusion from Agricultural Land Reserve, in order to allow for construction of the 212 Street connector and development of the remaining land. The connector is partially built and will connect Willoughby to the new 216 interchange on Highway 1. The trees were cut some time ago, but it is clear there were many very mature ones on the site. No trees have been left standing. Given that the land is within the ALR, any tree preservation bylaws would not apply. To the best of my knowledge, the land has ...

A wonderful statue of Arthur Thomas Fleetwood, in his First World War uniform, stands outside the Fleetwood Community Centre complex at 84 Avenue and 160 Street. It is one of the few public remembrances of veterans are in Surrey. Hopefully, the recent attention paid to "Charlie's Tree" in Port Kells will lead to some more recognition. The fall to the ground of “Charlie’s Tree” along Highway 1 in Port Kells has attracted a lot of attention. The 300-year-old Douglas fir came to public attention in the early 1960s, when it was scheduled to be cut down to make room for the new freeway. Highways Minister Phil Gaglardi, who had been compared to Roman road builders by his boss, Premier W.A.C. Bennett, was determined to have a straight-as-an-arrow road running into the Fraser Valley. However, he hadn’t reckoned with Charlie Perkins. The longtime Port Kells resident and First World War flying corps veteran had a special area at the rear of his 96 Avenue property that ...

Kinder Morgan photo Twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline will have a profound effect on Surrey, the National Energy Board was told last week. The City of Surrey stated its position on the proposal to twin the Trans Mountain pipeline at National Energy Board hearings last week. It is not in favour or opposed to the pipeline proposal – it simply doesn’t want the project to cost local taxpayers more money. In addition, the city has concerns about portions of the proposed new route. It also would like to see the new pipeline route accommodate both the twinned pipeline and the original line, thus taking the line built in 1953 through portions of north Surrey out of commission. Surrey’s position in many ways dovetails with the general attitude of many B.C. residents, and the provincial government. The enthusiasm for the pipeline project is lukewarm at best, and specific benefits are demanded in return for support. At the same time, many other B.C. residents, including mem...