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More sample content for Letters to the EAO or to our local media:

We have listed many of the topics and tried to put the information in a nutshell.  Choose the topic or sentence that is most suitable, and change the tense to the first person by writing it from yourself.  You may send several small letters, (preferred), or blend them together into a larger communication.  If you would like a direct answer, then send it to the appropriate recipient with copies to our politicians and newspapers, or make it a letter to the editor and send it to the newspapers with copies to our politicians and government agencies.

Wildlife habitat

The proposed SFPR would result in the destruction of prime wildlife habitat of threatened and endangered species.  This habitat is critical to the survival of the Fraser River and the many species of birds and animals that migrate along it.

Trees

An unacceptable number of trees would be cleared for the proposed highway.  Hundreds of trees that not only protect our quality of air by gobbling up 40 tons of carbon dioxide each, but also shade the Fraser River foreshore and its vital salmon rearing waters. These trees also provide roosting and nesting places for Bald Eagles, several species of Hawks, Woodpeckers, Owls and over a 150 different birds that either live or migrate through here.

Heritage

As the founding neighbourhood in Delta, and one of the oldest in the province, you will find many of the people of Sunbury/ Annieville are long-term residents, some of whom have lived here for generations. Many of these families are in the expropriation zone and are being forced out by the proposed highway.  Delta will not only lose Heritage sites, but many of the pioneer families that helped to build this community. 

Property values.

Families in the expropriation zone are being called the lucky ones, even though they are being forced to sell at what Gateway calls fair market value based strictly for the property and house size with no value added for the view or setting.  Properties with only a portion taken, will be left with a freeway literally in the backyard.  Hundreds of homes that currently enjoy a view of the river, mountains and green space full of wildlife, will find it replaced with a 4 Lane Hwy, and all its noise and pollution.  These families have put their life savings into their home and property and will see those property values plummet.

Air Quality

The many trees that line our bluffs would be replaced with cars and trucks spewing exhaust and diesel particulate over our homes, schools, and playgrounds.  Diesel particulate PM10 and PM2.5 are known carcinogens that we are trying to reduce in our neighbourhoods by getting trucks off River Road, not by adding to the volume with a freeway and increased traffic where we now have trees and green space that consume hundreds of tons of air pollutants.  Building a highway along the bluffs of North Delta will have serious adverse health effects on our families and children and is contrary to the air quality strategies that we have in place.

Burns Bog

Our precious bog, the lungs of the Lower Mainland, would be threatened by the addition of a major highway along its border, despite a protective covenant that states...." the Province, Delta, and the GVRD, shall not do anything, or allow anything to be done, that does or could reasonably be expected to destroy, impair, diminish, negatively affect, or alter the bog or (its) amenities.  Many, many hours, much effort, and 110 million taxpayer dollars went into protecting the bog, and we cannot allow the construction of this highway to endanger it.

Noise and Light Pollution

Where residents currently enjoy a peaceful backyard of green space and wildlife with beautiful sunsets and starry nights, the proposed highway would replace that with the din of constant noise and bright lighting.

Livability

People are drawn to North Delta because of the livability, and most stay to raise generations of family.  We like the fact that Bald Eagles soar over our properties.... Hawks and owls chase over hundred species of birds around our feeders, and the occasional deer wander into our yards to avoid the coyotes.  All of this will be lost if a highway is built to replace the green space and trees of this vital wildlife corridor that connects Burns Bog to the upper Fraser River.

Geotechnical

The Geotechnical aspects of the bluffs are well known to the residents here. The trucks, trains and even the freighters cause shaking that result in sloughing of the banks, and cracks in the foundations of homes.  Old-time residents can tell you of the quake of 1948 that caused River Road to open up in a chasm a half a mile long and too deep to see the bottom, only to see it reseal itself after a week of rain.The BNSF rail company even has a wire running along the bluffs to warn of the impending slide. We are trying to reduce truck traffic on River Road, and get the train company to go back to safer and lighter loads.  Gateway's geotechnical review alludes to the unstable condition of the banks, yet attempts to justify the highway plans, setting us up for a disaster like the ones that happened in Eastern Canada and California when similar highway structures slid off the hillside.

DeltaPort & Surrey Fraser docks

Gateway wants to build the SFPR to connect DeltaPort and the Surrey Fraser Docks with industrial nodes out to Highway #1, but the expansion of DeltaPort would do irreparable damage to the Fraser River estuary and the many threatened and endangered species that live there.  As well, it is in the wrong location to compete with Prince Rupert in the container trade. The Surrey Fraser Docks has lost 70% of its business due to a shift in the container industry and is not going to regain its previous capacity. Considering these two developments, and the fact that Gateway's own figures show that the current Port facilities and infrastructure is capable of handling the lower mainland's needs, the SFPR would be over-building.

Twinning of the Port Mann

Any expansion or extension of our national highway should be the financial responsibility of the federal government.  The gas tax is collected to pay for infrastructure, and has been collected for the last 17, or so years, at nearly $800 million per year. This money should be used to pay for any additional crossings of the Fraser River, including the Golden Ears Bridge and upgrades to our current roads and bridges, thereby eliminating the need for tolling.  Since the twinning of the Port Mann would, by Gateway's own admission, be overcapacity in a few years, the money would be better spent on a proper transit initiative.

Transit initiative

The Provincial Government has stated that increased transit won't be a priority until there is sufficient capacity, however this is backwards thinking. There are currently no transit buses that travel from Surrey to Coquitlam Centre, and buses on River Road in Delta (and many other locations south of the Fraser River) come by only once per hour.  Is it any wonder why traffic is so congested at the Port Mann Bridge? Stockholm, Sweden developed a transit initiative and reduced vehicle congestion by 35 per cent in the first year.  Build it and they will come.

Cycling

Commuting by bicycle is rapidly increasing throughout the Lower Mainland, but is being held back by the lack of safe and effective routes.  The plans for the South Fraser Perimeter Road show a bicycle route along the side of the freeway with no barrier or protection for the riders.  We need to follow the examples of other major cities throughout the world, and keep our freeways away from the river's edge, and develop these corridors with strip parks and walking/cycling pathways that are safe and enjoyable to use.

Public consultation meetings

Gateway's open house meetings have done little to provide residents with any details. Information has been specious, conflicting, and at times, deliberately misleading.  Up until recently, maps have been vague and questions regarding specific properties have been met with ambiguous comments.  The current round of open houses by the EAO have provided better maps, but very little in the way of distinct answers, including how close the proposed highway will be to people's homes.  Gateway representatives were unable (or unwilling ) to answer many of the questions put forward by residents, instead referring people to the 3000 page document on their website.  A document that is purposefully wordy, hard to find and navigate, and that Gateway admits has errors, and omissions, including maps with incorrect details.  Gateway has been running a deliberate campaign of avoidance strategies and delay tactics.

Tunnel proposal

Gateway has said that they have done a thorough and detailed comparison of the tunnel versus highway costs for the North Delta section however, they have yet to provide a side-by-side comparison.  In the last year, their tunnel estimate has risen from $400 million to 650 million, while the highway for the same distance has gone from $187 million to $188 million.  This is another example of Gateway fudging the numbers and deceiving the public to further their agenda.  Tunnel building companies and experts in the trade are on record as stating the Gateway figures are much too high, and their highway costs are too low.  This tactic is an attempt the make the difference so great as to put the saving of our community out of reach financially.