From

From: Maury Harte
Sent: September 14th, 2001
To: Lisa Muri
Subject: OBSTACLES ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE DANGEROUS...OTHER SOLUTIONS ?

Dear Ms. Muri,

As a homeowner on Rivergrove Place , I am concerned about the speed bumps that have been installed on Riverside Drive . In contradiction to what we were informed by the district, the hump/bump devices require a reduction in speed to under 30kph, 20kph less than the legal speed limit.

I did attend one of the planning sessions, and did in fact travel to those areas in Vancouver where these devices were installed. As a result I wrote a letter to the district body, informing them that these "humps" were used only in 30kph areas in the city of Vancouver . At the time the only response I got was an acknowledgement of my letter, not of the content within.

I own several automobiles, including a vintage 1969 Datsun Fairlady convertible. As was explained in the letter to the area residents, the intent of these devices were to control traffic to the legal limit, and not to arbitrarily lower the limit to that of a school zone or playground area.

I invite you to drive this section of road yourself and send me any comments you have on this matter. While some form of traffic calming may well be required, perhaps other avenues (chicanes, traffic circles, better signage) should be explored that would result in a satisfactory situation for everybody in the community.

In addition, I wonder if you could direct me to the appropriate department regarding the traffic speed surveys and accident report incidents allueded to in the letter sent to area residents. I would like more complete information regarding the number of accidents that have occured in the Riverside Drive area, and the results of the speed surveys performed both before and after the latest speed enforcement campaign.

Thank-you,

Maury Harte
1935 Rivergrove Place
604.929.9747

From: Maury Harte
Sent: November 14th, 2001
To: Councillors of the District of North Vancouver
Subject: RIVERSIDE "HUMPS" WHAT IS GOING ON?

To the city councillors of the District of North Vancouver:

Several months ago I wrote to each of you individually regarding the inappropriate use of speed humps/bumps as traffic control devices on Riverside Drive . At that time, I asked each of you to personally inspect the drive the area at the legal speed limit of 50KPH. I would first like to thank councillor Ms.Muri for having the courtesy to telephone me to discuss the matter, and Mr. Crist for at least responding.

Suffice to say that two months later no one has actually contacted me to provide their opinion of the road conditions. On top of that, the district has apparently decided to ignore a neighborhood petition to remove them, and generally let the matter slide. Shame on you all.

Instead today I received a note from the district informing us that the "humps" are outside spec and will be repaired and possibly "completely replaced this coming spring/summer of 2000" (quoted from the letter). Amazingly enough, this letter also mentions a three month monitoring period. Would it be unfair to derive from these two statements a bias on behalf of the Transportation Department towards in favour of the speed bumps? Don't think so, do you?

I invite you AGAIN to drive this section of road yourself and send me any comments you have on this matter. While some form of traffic calming may well be required, humps are inappropriate. They are used only in school/park zones with a 30KPH speed limit, or as a traffic deterrence device to limit "cutting through" residential streets alongside arterial roadways.

Thank-you,

Maury Harte
1935 Rivergrove Place
604.929.9747

From: Ernie Crist
Sent: November, 2001
To: Maury Harte
Subject: RE: RIVERSIDE "HUMPS" WHAT IS GOING ON?

Dear Mr. Harte;

The speed bumps were requested by the Seymour Valley Community Association. Following this a survey conducted by District Staff showed that the majority of the residents approved of the bumps. The dimension of the bumps are currently being changed but they will remain unless the Seymour Residents Association by democratic vote requests that they be removed. I conducted myself appropriately by responding to the wishes of the democratic majority. I strongly suggest that the people in your neighborhood get together and resolve this matter on their own and yes I did visit the place and more then once.

Yours truly,

Ernie Crist

From: Bill Denault
Sent: November 15, 2001 1:20 PM
To: Maury Harte
Subject: RE: RIVERSIDE "HUMPS" WHAT IS GOING ON?

Dear Mr. Harte,

I would suggest that you contact Mr. Holland who apparently has been acting on behalf of the anti-hump residents . I believe most Councillors have responded to him or Mr. Maurer at least several times with explanations of their activities.. I appreciate your frustration but I would politely suggest that an organized and responsible approach to Council members is the most effective route.

Councillor Denault

From: Maury Harte
Sent: November 16th, 2001
To: Councillors of the District of North Vancouver
Subject: OBSTACLES ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE DANGEROUS...OTHER SOLUTIONS ?

November 16th, 2001

Members of council,

As an addendum to my letter earlier this week regarding the Riverside traffic discussions, the following should be noted. The current "Speed Studies" alluded to in a letter sent to residents from the Transportation Department is disturbing to say the least.

To begin, performing any study when the devices in use are deficient is a waste of time and money. The results will be flawed and can be used by any group to advance their own cause.

Second, this is stated to be a "speed study". When the bumps were installed and I asked what criteria would be used to review their "impact" (small joke for big bumps) on the neighborhood, I was told that no such criteria had been established. Limiting the study strictly to measuring traffic speed ignores all other factors that contribute or degrade the safety of the roadway.

Finally, it should be obvious that the recorded average speed is likely to decrease. If that is the only intent, then just dig up the street and put in potholes and other devices that contribute to poor driving conditions, and I assure you that the average speed will decrease.

Yours truly,

Mr. Maury Harte
1935 Rivergrove Place
604.929.9747

From: Maury Harte
Sent: November 16th, 2001
To: Ken Kreuger, Transportation Department, District of North Vancouver
Subject: RIVERSIDE "HUMPS" WHAT IS GOING ON?

Attn: Ken Krueger

As a resident of Rivergrove Place in the district, I have been "impacted" by the installation of speed bumps on Riverside Drive . As such, could you please provide me with the following information regarding the methodology used by the district that led to their installation.

Specifically:

What criteria will be considered by the city to determine whether or not the bumps will be removed or not after the three month evaluation period.

The results and data collected for the evaluation of the other bumps installed on both Viewlynn Drive and Glenwood Drive .

Copies of any policy papers/directives generated by the traffic department concerning this matter. Specifically, why the traffic department recommended their installation at these three locations, and why bumps were selected as the preferred solution over other methods of improving road safety?

Letters and documentation that were presented to the traffic department from residents of the Viewlynn Drive and Glenwood Drive areas. Specifically what the residents in those areas hoped would occur by the installation of the bumps.

As you are aware, these devices have caused much frustration within the neighborhood. Personally, I am interested in what material was considered by the traffic department that led to their installation on Riverside Drive . Both Viewlynn Drive and Glenwood Drive are park/school areas with legal limits of 30KPH, whereas the speed limit indicated by the posted sign on Riverside Drive is 50KPH. As such, shouldn't the bumps be set so that they do not cause traffic to be limited to 30KPH ?

Thank-you

Maury Harte
1935 Rivergrove Place
604.831.9747