Need for impact assessment, clarification on status of RR43 forces further delay in hearing

The completion of a comprehensive traffic impact assessment and clarification on the status of Range Road 43-Hwy. 22 intersection has delayed the completion of a public hearing on designating land-use for the newly annexed land north of Heritage Hills.

What started a series of concerns expressed by the Heritage Hills Community Association has lead to further exploration of whether the transportation corridor will be able to support ample increased traffic volumes anticipated with development in the area.

Both Heritage Hills and Heartland haven't reached full build-out and won't for some time. Add to that the Southland Transportation bus depot, Horse Creek Sports Park, police detachment, and eventual construction of a new high school, and traffic pressure will increase substantially.

Residents in the area already battle traffic along Hwy. 1A, especially on weekends during the summer. It's not unusual to see traffic backed up from the Hwy. 22 intersection to the Horse Creek Road at peak hours.

Further impacting the traffic flow will be the proposed closure of Range Road 43 included in the design for the enhanced Hwy. 1A-22 intersection.

Town administration met with officials of Alberta Transportation, Southland Transportation Ltd., and the Heritage Hills Community Association following the adjourned Nov. 25 public hearing.

A closer look at future traffic flow through the area has been the result. A traffic impact study is expected to be completed by mid-January. That will allow time for further consultation with the community association and other stakeholders before the public hearing reconvenes on Feb. 24.

"We had a traffic impact assessment that was completed early," Riley Weldon, town planning services manager, told town council. "It was a very high-level impact assessment and we felt a more detailed traffic impact assessment was needed."

They are seeking confirmation from Alberta Transportation on whether the 43-22 intersection will be closed.

Community association president Trent Leinenweber says their group emerged from the meeting with fewer concerns and is impressed with how the town is seeking further data.

He says concerns over light pollution and noise were mitigated. They were also pleased with the routing of bus traffic by Southland Transportation to and from the proposed depot.

"Southland had come to the conclusion that most if not all their traffic will go up the 262/43. They also went through our concerns about noise and light pollution. We were pretty satisfied with the end result but it all depends upon the town's ability to upgrade 262 and ensure the fact that 43-22 stays connected."

"The town's in the best position to influence the Government of Alberta running with that intersection upgrade."