Roads in Surrey

I have always believed that local government is more responsive than higher levels of government in addressing citizen's concerns. Point in case is the 84 Avenue Extension. The extension was to skirt around the south side of Break Creek Park. Surrey Council voted no to the plan yesterday night due to public outcry. From the Vancouver Sun:

Martin said that at one time she supported the extension, but changed her mind a few weeks ago. "There must be other viable alternatives to just building another road," she said.

Stephanie Ryan, president of the Surrey Civil Coalition, said the organization was concerned the road would damage salmon-bearing streams.

Compare Bear Creek Park to the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR). The SFPR has a greater impact to neighbourhoods in Surrey (75 Sunbury homes have been expropriated) and the environment with Burns Bog, yet it is being built. The public outcry seemed to land on deaf ears.

Between the SFPR and SkyTrain, I have to wonder what’s happening in Victoria sometimes. To be fair, there are great examples of inter-government cooperation (the Langley Events Centre comes to mind), but it seems that sometimes the province gets fixated on something, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.