Regarding the Impending Rocky Ridge Road Closure

Dear Residents of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak;

As you may have heard by now City Council has voted to close Rocky Ridge Road. The anticipated closure date continues to move, however currently we have been told that it will close in the spring of 2010. Though unsuccessful in our attempts to keep the road open, through our efforts R3C3 has brought the awareness of this issue to the forefront and all of the concerns that surround the City's plan for our community. We fought long and hard to ensure the safety of the citizens of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak. Many volunteer hours were spent with our Technical Committee proposing alternative road designs and our Communication Committee lobbying the Provincial Officials, City Officials, the City Aldermen and your Mayor to bring forward a viable solution to this issue that would have been a win win situation for all concerned.

Since February 2009, when meeting with any politician (other than Alderman Gord Lowe), they all sympathized and agreed that the road should remain open for the sake of the community - despite Alderman Hodges signing off on the 2005 plan to close the road. However, they felt that they were not provided with an "engineered stamp of approval" design to keep the road open. Our technical team (who were not "technical civil road engineers") worked very hard to establish viable alternatives by demonstrating design solutions in other parts of the city that could be used for our road alternative. The city/provincial engineers would not consider any other viable alternative based on current design standards and would not come up with their own solution to allow the road to remain open. Not at any point did the city or provincial engineers build a team and work collaboratively together to design an alternative on their own, all they did was "poke holes" through our technical teams designs. There was a design alternative from the 2005 Stoney/Crowchild Trail interchange plan that allowed the road to remain open. However, the expansion of the northwest leg of the LRT to Rocky Ridge required the closure of the road due to changes in design standards. We tried to get the province/city to work with the 2005 plan, however neither level of government was prepared to look at the cost to implement. Many costs were thrown about (from 30 million, 38 million, 40 million and finally $50 million) to keep the road open, however this was not a hurdle that we could over come within this short time frame. Because of our residents phone calls and emails to the Minister of Transportation,Luke Ouellette, Lindsay Blackett convinced the Minister of Transportation to hire an "independent" third party consultant. Within three days, the consultant had reviewed our technical teams designs and concurred that the Stoney/Crowchild Trail intersection is a "super interchange" which has more stringent design standards and consequently Rocky Ridge Road should be closed. The only option to keep the road open would have been to revert back to the 2005 design plan, however this had been deemed cost prohibitive at this time. There are presently only 2 super-interchanges within all of Alberta - one in Edmonton and now one at the Stoney/Crowchild Trail intersection.

To Mr. Hubble of the City's Transportation and Infrastructure Department, we would like to say to you that over 2,000 signatures from our community along with hundreds and hundreds of emails and phone calls to all levels of the political arena does not in anyway suggest support for the road closure - as he stated to council March 28th. In addition, Mayor Bronconnier on countless occasions within council meetings as well in person continued to state that he lives in a community where there is only one entrance into his community. We would like to say that just because your community only has one entrance does not make it right for ours. We are truly disappointed and disgusted in the way that our politicians have chosen not to listen to the people of our community and have instead blamed each other rather than find a win/win solution for all. They know that leaving the road open for as long as they have was wrong. City council has passed building permits to allow a high density area at the bottom of Rocky Ridge Road, they have passed three church building permits and allowed building on either side of Rocky Ridge Road, with no direct access from this intersection. They continued to condone the closure of the road by purchasing additional lands on two separate occasions from the North West Family Church to allow for entrance expansions into the community as well as upgrading the road from a two way to a 4 lane major artery. With this in mind, how can you honestly say that this road should be closed as it has become the major arterial roadway for our community? Alderman Dale Hodges, the Mayor, MLA, Lindsay Blackett and former MLA, Greg Melchin know that to close this road and make the residents and non-residents of this community travel our residential roads is wrong. This closure does not just effect the residents today but forever - from a risk/safety, economic, environmental and time perspective.

After the road closure announcement was made our plan was to have an open house June 18th to advise the community of our efforts, to allow you the citizens to address your politicians and to provide an update for the mitigation measures and safety concerns as a result of the road closure. Unfortunately, the city decided to have their Open House in Tuscany on June 17th and had notified us that they would be unable to directly address the public that day. Consequently, we were not able to make that meeting happen before summer begins, so we will try again in the fall if all parties are willing.

In the meantime as Chair of R3C3, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee members for all of their hard work and dedication over the last 3 months. The effort that was put in to raise the awareness in our community in such a short period of time was nothing short of a miraculous. I can't help but think what the outcome would have been if this same passionate and dedicated group of volunteers would have come together 2 years ago to address this issue.

It was a pleasure to have worked with you through this campaign. I am very proud of not only our committee but also the response from the community, which just goes to show you that Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak is the best community in Calgary and a place that I am proud to call home.

Sincerely,

Todd Phillips
Chair Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee (R3C3)

Lauree Phillips
R3C3 Communications Subcommittee

CANCELLATION of Rocky Ridge Road Closure Town Hall Meeting

Due to the information provided to us today that the Calgary Transportation Infrastructure department will be having an Open House informing the community of the road closure to be held in Rocky Ridge June 17th, we have no choice but to cancel the Town Hall Meeting June 18th.

Sincerely,

Todd Phillips, Chairman,
Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee

Council Vote

Council voted today to close Rocky Ridge Road at a 1st reading. 9 to 3 to close. Because of the delay, Council intends to skip the 2nd ready to avoid any further delays and the possibility of loosing funding from the government and go straight to 3rd reading next Monday. Hubbil was quoted as saying that the community now supports the road closure. Mayor Bronconier advised that this has dragged on long enough and besides his community only has 1 entrance. He also congratulated Alderman Hodges for all his hard work since 2006. Thanks,

Todd Phillips
R3C3 Chair

Town Hall Meeting/Open House to Explain Why Rocky Ridge Road is Closing and to Address Community Traffic Mitigation Measures

The R3C3 Technical Subcommittee met with the Deputy Minister of Transportation (Government of Alberta), General Manager, Transportation (City of Calgary) and their staff on May 9, 2009. Also in attendance was a consultant engaged by the Government of Alberta to review options that would render the full and permanent closure of the Crowchild Trail/Rocky Ridge Road intersection unnecessary.

Unfortunately at that meeting a technically and financially viable option was not produced to keep the Rocky Ridge Road/Crowchild Trail intersection open. A tentative date of August 1, 2009 has now been set for the proposed road closure.

The proposed closure is on the agenda for a meeting of the Calgary City Council on May 11, 2009 and has been deferred again until May 25th so that mitigation measures can be addressed.

The R3C3 committee will be organizing a Town Hall Meeting/Open House in June with our elected officials, the independent consultant and provincial/municipal engineers to explain to residents "Why Rocky Ridge Road is Closing" and to address Community Traffic Mitigation Measures.

Todd Phillips
Chairman
R3C3

How Did You Get to Royal Oak Victory Church This Morning?

You took one of four routes:
1. Crowchild Trail through Rocky Ridge Road Intersection Direct:

• 1.5 mins. Less than half a kilometer
  
  

2. Crowchid Trail to 12 Mile Coulee to Rocky Valley Drive to Rocky Ridge Blvd:

• 28 Driveways, Potential School Zone & Baseball Field, School Bus Stops, Bus Stops, Community Center & Playground, Soccer Field
  
• 5 minutes 50 sec (6 mins) – 5 kms
  

3. Stoney Trail to Country Hills to Royal Birch Blvd to Royal Oak Drive:

• 3 stop lights, Potential School Zone, Baseball Fields, Soccer Fields, 30 km/hr Playground Zone
  
• 7 minutes, approx. 7 kms
  

4. City of Calgary’s Proposed Route:
Stoney Trail to Country Hills to Rocky Ridge Road to Royal Oak Drive:

• 5 stop lights (one will be at Rocky Ridge Road / Country Hills Blvd) (Stopped for two lights...)
  
• 9.5 minutes, 7.5 kms
  

-- Lauree Phillips - R3C3 Communications Subcommittee

We Must Send Our Message By Phone As Well

Dear Residents of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak,

Thank you so much, to those of you that have done so, for sending your emails to Minister's Oulette's office and copying the various politicians. Hundreds of emails have bombarded their offices and they have taken notice of our issue. Usually for even a well publicized issue they only receive a few emails, however they now know this community is well-organized, standing together and strong and will oppose this closure until we receive some resolution. We are probably now at the most critical stage of the campaign and it is now imperative that we maintain the momentum and in fact step up the campaign. We now need to communicate the same message to them through a phone call campaign. This phone call should take at most 5 minutes.... Due to timing of provincial meetings on this issue, we need this message to be heard Monday (4 May), preferably in the morning.

The most effective approach for us will be to call Mr. Ouellette's office and for the community to voice their concern regarding this proposed closure. You can dial directly to 780-427-2080 or if you prefer, you can dial the toll free phone number 403-310-0000 after which, at the appropriate prompt, you can connect to the Minister of Transportation’s office by dialing 780-427-2080.
Because we are looking for consistency and a respectful tone of the message, we are asking that you state the following:

1. Opposition to the road closure for your own reasons;

2. You, representing your community, are asking Minister Ouellette to help us by directing his senior officials to engage the City of Calgary's Transportation engineers to bring forward a viable, cost effective solution that will permit the intersection to remain open. It is important to stress that we are not asking for a complete review of the design of the interchange. We just want all parties to act in good faith and give an honest attempt to find a win/win solution for the community, the City of Calgary, and the Province of Alberta.

Thank you so much everyone,

Sincerely,
Todd Phillips
Chairman
Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee (R3C3)

Our Message Must Be Heard!

Dear Residents of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak,

After having two postponements of the closure of Rocky Ridge Road from City Council, meetings with the Mayor, various aldermen, Dale Hodges, and our MLA, Lindsay Blackett, we will be coming to the final decision to close the road May 11th, 2009.

If you feel passionate about this closure and realize the impact it will have on this community from risk/safety, economic and environmental cost perspective today and for the future, we are requesting that the community voice be heard once again. Your voice must be heard.

Please complete the attached letter (see: lines in red) and please forward the attachment only to Mr. Luke Ouellette. If you have time, it is important that you personalize it and tell your politicians why you believe they should keep this road open. We have provided you with the top ten reasons that we presented to the politicians that you can use if you wish.

Please address your email To:

• Mr. Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation
  innisfail.sylvanlake@assembly.ab.ca
  transportation.minister@gov.ab.ca

Please copy your email to the following:

• Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta
  fortsaskatchewan.vegreville@assembly.ab.ca
  
  
• Lindsay Blackett, MLA Calgary NorthWest
  Calgary.Northwest@assembly.ab.ca
  
  
• Dave Bronconnier, Mayor of Calgary
  themayor@calgary.ca
  
  
• Alderman Dale Hodges
  dale.hodges@calgary.ca
  
  
• Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee
  r3c3-letters@googlegroups.com
  

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Sincerely,

-- Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee (R3C3)

[ Attached letter ]
In ms word format: LettertoLukeOuellette,MinisterTransportation.docx
In rich text format: LettertoLukeOuellette,MinisterTransportation.rtf

[ Please also see ]
Top Reasons To Keep Rocky Ridge Road Open

Top Reasons To Keep Rocky Ridge Road Open

Top Reasons to Vote “NO” to Bylaw 30D209 Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak Road Closure on April 27th:


1) It's one of the highest used roads
Council is being asked to close one of the highest used traffic accessed roads in the history of Calgary infrastructure - a major arterial road access that already exists and has the highest traffic volume in this community; This closure will have a devastating impact on the community when there are viable cost neutral and economically feasible alternatives to its closure;


2) Safety
If this intersection is closed, the Safety and Risk Profile of our community, our families & children will change overnight. There will be a substantial increase in traffic on 5 of our residential roads. These are the roads in front of our community center, toboggan hill, many playgrounds, school zones, baseball fields, soccer fields, bus stops, school bus stops, walkways, pathways and driveways.

3) Non-Resident Access
Due to our community having three large churches, the proposed Latter-Day-Saints Temple, and our new LRT station, this road does not just facilitate travel for the Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak residents only but a portion of all Calgarians. If this intersection is closed, all people travelling to our community will be forced to travel these 5 residential roads instead of direct access through this intersection. These people were not included in any of the City of Calgary’s traffic studies.

• Proposed Latter-Day-Saints temple will be directly servicing 18,000 members within Calgary and surrounding communities through out the week. This temple will be the 3rd temple in Alberta and only the 8th in Canada;
  
• Royal Oak Victory Church membership 450 + expansion 550 + # using church facilities @night/weekends 760 = 1,760;
  
• North West Family Church membership 100 + approx # of people using church facilities @ night/weekends 1,000 = 1,100
  
• Potential for a percentage (not known ?) of Cochrane and other North West community residents to access our LRT which is intended to serve the communities of Rocky Ridge, Royal Oak & Tuscany only;
  

4) Additional Transportation Costs
Mileage, gas, maintenance estimate: $950/yr/household; $2,092,000 /yr for all RR/RO drivers;

5) Environmental Costs
Carbon Dioxide Emissions estimate: 2.7 million kg/yr or 5.9 million lbs/yr;

6) Emergency 2nd Response
Possible increase of response time to respond to another emergency from outside our community;

7) Promises Made But Not Completed
Surface Transportation Noise Policy, intersection & road upgrades;

8) Communication Issues Regarding this Closure to the Community
Most residents do not believe this road would close because:

• It is the major access route into and out of our community;
  
• It is a full functioning boulevard with clear entrances into all 6 sub-communities;
  
• City of Calgary signage indicating temporary nature of access was removed for many years;
  

9) Petition Signatures
1,830 signatures (and counting!) Many with passionate comments, speaking out against the closure, from residents of our community.

10) Ok, we only listed 9 here, but we're sure you'll think of your own. Thanks for all your support!

-- R3C3

UPDATED: Rocky Ridge Road Closure Media Release

CITY OF CALGARY VOTES APRIL 27, 2009 ON THE FATE OF ROCKY RIDGE ROAD

Calgary, Alberta ….April 26, 2009 …. Concerned residents of the Northwest Communities of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak met with The City of Calgary’s Transportation Infrastructure Business Unit and presented a number of conceptual and cost-effective solutions to keep Rocky Ridge Road open. Residents are hopeful that The City of Calgary’s Transportation Infrastructure Business Unit will support one of the proposed plans and find a solution that will benefit the Communities.

The Rocky Ridge Road Closure Committee has met with Mayor Bronconnier and several Aldermen since March 9, 2009, when the closure of Rocky Ridge Road was tabled because of strong opposition by the Communities. There are over 1 800 petition signatures demanding that the access remain open. This list continues to grow as residents become aware of the impact of the closure. The Communities are hopeful that the Aldermen will vote against the closure of Rocky Ridge Road on April 27, 2009.

“The current proposed closure of Rocky Ridge Road will prove to have long term financial and environmental impacts to the individuals living and commuting within both Communities” adds Jill-Marie Spence, spokesperson for the Rocky Ridge Road closure Committee. “The closure is a step backwards as Calgary works towards reducing its environmental footprint” stated Spence. “We have to start planning solutions to infrastructure projects that will be viable in years to come.”

Rocky Ridge Road Closure Media Release

Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Residents Hopeful that the City’s Transportation Infrastructure Department Will Pull Through With a Design

Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak Community Committee (R3C3) met with Mayor Bronconnier and several Aldermen in the past week to discuss the communities proposed technical viable alternatives allowing Rocky Ridge Road / Crowchild Trail intersection to continue to remain open with partial or full access to the community available. Because the city understands how the closure impacts this community from a risk and safety standpoint, increased residential traffic as well as increased vehicle costs and green house gas emissions, there is definitely a willingness of all politicians and their staff to keep the road open as long as a cost-effective and professional engineered “approved” design can be obtained.

The Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak technical team has worked diligently to find infrastructure solutions. They have provided cost-effective alternative designs and have met several times with representatives from City of Calgary’s Transportation Infrastructure department. Mayor Bronconnier and Alderman Hodges have tasked their staff to continue to work with the community’s technical team to review all interchange designs and to provide a solution, if feasible. There is willingness of this department to review these designs and continue to find a solution to this situation. With the City Council vote looming on April 27^th, the Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak Committee is hoping that the City’s Transportation Infrastructure team will “pull through” and provide a viable solution for this community.

Within the week, the Community Committee (R3C3) will be meeting with Lindsay Blackett, MLA Calgary North-West, to discuss the community proposed viable alternatives and ask for his support to take the final proposed alternative to the Minister of Transportation, Luke Ouellette. The Community continues to support this initiative demonstrating their concern through petition signing, writing letters and emails and calling their respective politicians to voice their concern.

Please contact the R3C3 Communications Subcommittee at r3c3@googlegroups.com for more information.

[UPDATE - April 27]

This media release was editer before it could be sent out to the media. There is a new media release which replaces this release here:
r3c3.blogspot.com/2009/04/updated-rocky-ridge-road-closure-media.html

Help Us Spread Our Message!

If you have not already done so, please contact the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta and ask that they continue to search for viable alternatives to the permanent closure of Rocky Ridge Road.

Download this sample letter:
RRR-Letter.doc

Please mail this to Mayor Dave Bronconnier of The City Of Calgary and The Honorable Luke Ouellette, Minister of Transportation. Feel free to change the letter, as this is truly about having YOUR voice heard!

Please also CC this letter to the Honourable Ed Stelmach - Premier of Alberta, The Honourable Lindsay Blackett - Minister of Culture & Community Spirit, as well as Dale Hodges - Alderman for The City Of Calgary

If you plan to mail this letter please use the following addresses:

• Mayor Dave Bronconnier
  The City Of Calgary
  700 Macleod Trail SE
  Calgary, AB
  T2P 2M5
  
  

• The Honorable Luke Ouellette
  Minister of Transportation
  Room 418 Legislature Bldg, 10800 – 97th Avenue
  Edmonton, AB
  T5K 2B6
  
  

• Ed Stelmach
  Office of the Premier
  Room 307, Legislature Building
  10800 - 97th Avenue
  Edmonton, Alberta
  T5K 2B6
  
  

• Honourable Lindsay Blackett
  MLA for Calgary-North West
  Constituency Office
  #29, 735 Ranchlands Blvd. NW
  Calgary, AB
  T3G 3A9
  
  

• Alderman Dale Hodges
  PO Box 2100, Station M, 8001A
  Calgary, AB
  T2P 2M5
  
  

NOTE: You will need to print this letter once for each person you are sending it to and address and stamp a new envelope for each letter.


If you'd like to contact them via telephone please find these numbers helpful:

• Mayor Dave Bronconnier
  The City Of Calgary
  ph: 403-268-5622
  fax: 403-268-8130
  
  

• The Honorable Luke Ouellette
  Minister of Transportation
  ph: 780-427-2080
  fax: 780-422-2722
  
  

• Ed Stelmach
  Office of the Premier
  ph: 780-427-2251
  fax: 780-427-1349
  
  

• Honourable Lindsay Blackett
  MLA for Calgary-North West
  ph: 403-216-5444
  fax: 403-216-5442
  
  

• Alderman Dale Hodges
  ph: 403-268-2430
  
  

If you'd like to contact them via email please address accordingly:

• TO:
  themayor@calgary.ca,
  transportation.minister@gov.ab.ca
  
  

• CC:
  ed.stelmach@gov.ab.ca,
  calgary.northwest@assembly.ab.ca,
  dale.hodges@calgary.ca,
  alderweb@calgary.ca,
  r3c3-letters@googlegroups.com

With your help we can make a difference! Please pass this request along to your neighbours and anyone else you know who will be affected by this non-trivial road closure.

Thank you,

-- R3C3 Communications Subcommittee

Rocky Ridge Road Closure Update

The City of Calgary has provided the following update regarding the proposed permanent closure of Rocky Ridge Road.

rocky_ridge_road_update_april_13_2009.pdf

-- André van Dijk

City Handout from April 2nd Meeting

Here is a copy of the handout provided by the City when we meet on April 2nd.

City Handout - Apr 2nd Meeting - R3C3 Techical Subcommittee.PDF

-- Ernie Anderson - R3C3: Technical Subcommittee

Report on Recent Technical Meeting

During the recent meeting between the City and the Province the R3C3 regretfully did not have success in obtaining support for any option to keep Rocky Ridge Road open.

The meeting was constructive in that there was an open and sincere sharing of ideas, and there was agreement to meet again if required. Both sides undertook to take away and study the positions presented by the other side.

The R3C3 Technical Committee agreed to regroup, focusing on a smaller subset of potential solutions which can be further pursued with the City and Province.

-- André van Dijk

IT’S NOT OVER YET!!!

Do you want to spend additional time commuting?
Do you want to spend more money on gas?
Do you want increased safety risk to your family and streets?
Do you know there are OPTIONS?!

There is strong opposition to the proposed closure of Rocky Ridge Road in June, 2009 by the residents of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak Community. The awareness is still low that this closure can be stopped with your support.

The Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee (R3C3) has identified viable, financially responsible alternatives to the closure that will alleviate the tremendous increase in traffic flow, not to mention the vehicle and noise pollution and inherent safety risks to our children.

The current City of Calgary traffic volume statistics have not taken into consideration people from outside of the community directly traveling our five (5) primary access roads. Specifically, the Church-of-Latter-Day Saints temple, servicing 18,000 members weekly and the 500 seat expansion of the Royal Oak Victory Church or a percentage of the approximate 9,000 Cochrane commuters and North West commuters whose access who’s access to the new LRT station will be through Rocky Ridge. All three (3) Rocky Ridge Royal Oak churches are in firm opposition to this road closure.

The Province and City are striving for “easier access in and out of our NW communities” however, the road closure will not accomplish this. We need political help, please work with us to keep this access road open!

How you can help? Contact your City and Provincial politicians! Volunteer to canvas!

Thanks in advance for your time and passionate support – we can and must be heard!!!

-- Mary Ann Anderson - R3C3: Communications Subcommittee

Northwest LRT Extension: Project Update

The City Of Calgary Transportation Infrastructure has issued the following project update for the Northwest LRT Extension to Rocky Ridge/Royal Oak and Tuscany

LRT project update - March 2009.pdf

-- André van Dijk

Update from The City of Calgary

We have an update from the City of Calgary on the proposed Rocky Ridge Road closure. Please feel free to send this to anyone and everyone you think will be interested in it.

Rocky Ridge Road update - March 2009.pdf

-- André van Dijk

Planned Intersection Improvements

The City of Calgary recognizes the closure of Rocky Ridge Road will affect the traffic flowing through the communities of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak. As a result of traffic analysis the City has identified five major and two minor intersections that will need to be improved.

On its website the City has promised the intersection improvements will completed prior to the road closure in June. Various sources have stated work will not be able to start on any improvements requiring excavation until after the Victoria Day long weekend due to the frost.

Unfortunately, one can not get any information as to when work on these improvements will start and calls to the City have not been returned.

-- Derek Firemans

[UPDATE - April 8th, 2009]

Regarding Intersection Improvements due to the Rocky Ridge Road Closure:

The City has provided the following timelines regarding the improvements to intersections in Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak.

• Rocky Ridge Road / Rocky Ridge Blvd - 4-way stop to be installed prior to road closure. Installation timeframe June-July.
• Rocky Ridge Road / CHB - design ongoing, coordinating with utilities company. Construction timeframe May-July.
• Rocky Valley Dr / 12 Mile Coulee Rd. - design ongoing, coordinating with utility company. Construction timeframe May-July.
• 12 Mile Coulee Rd / Crowchild Trail - construction well progressed, awaiting spring thaw to complete. Construction timeframe May-June.
• Country Hills Blvd / Royal Birch Blvd - construction ongoing, scheduled for completion in July.
• Royal Birch Blvd / Royal Oak Way - design complete, construction scheduled to start late April with June completion.
• Royal Oak Drive Improvements - design complete, tender ongoing - to be completed before July if possible (we'll have to work with the contractor to make this a priority - it is one improvement within a city-wide contract).
• 107th Street Emergency Access - Road construction largely complete - landscaping, signage, and emergency vehicle gate to be installed in May/June

-- Derek Firemans

Thank You

On behalf of the Rocky Ridge Road Closure Community Committee (R3C3) we would like to thank the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Victory Church and the North West Family Church for offering their photocopying services, their facilities for our meetings and Open Houses, and for their firm support of this cause.

-- Lauree Phillips - On behalf of the R3C3

Road Closure Contact List

• Mayor Dave Bronconnier
  700 Macleod Trail SE
  Calgary, AB
  T2P 2M5
  
  • themayor@calgary.ca
• Alderman Dale Hodges
  PO Box 2100, Station M, 8001A
  Calgary, AB
  T2P 2M5
  
  • dale.hodges@calgary.ca
• The Honourable Luke Ouellette,
  Minister of Transportation
  Room 320 Legislature Bldg, 10800 97th Avenue
  Edmonton, AB
  T5K 2B6
  
  • Constituency Office e-mail:
    innisfail.sylvanlake@assembly.ab.ca
  • Legislature Office e-mail:
    transportation.minister@gov.ab.ca
    
• The Honourable Lindsay Blackett,
  Minister of Culture & Community Spirit
  Room 418 Legislature Bldg, 10800 – 97th Avenue
  Edmonton, AB
  T5K 2B6
  
  • Constituency Office e-mail:
    calgary.northwest@assembly.ab.ca
  • Legislature Office e-mail:
    ccs.minister@gov.ab.ca

-- R3C3

We Are Working On Alternative Solutions

Our committee will propose some form of overpass or underpass at the bottom of RRR to take community traffic over/under Crowchild Tr and east to city centre. We have several proposals integrated with changes to the Provincial design to offset the cost of the new flyover. We have not formalized our ideas yet but will be by mid next week.

-- Bob Hallett - R3C3: Technical Subcommittee

The Closure's Impact on Our Communities' Traffic Volumes

The City of Calgary contracted a company to complete manual traffic counts during peak commuting times only (between 6 am to 9 am and 3 pm - 6 pm). There were no counts completed during the day or on weekends. Once the counts are completed, the city traffic engineers put this data into a computer generated software program to determine how people are going to drive within and out of our community. The five residential roads of (Rocky Ridge Blvd, Rocky Valley Dr, Royal Oak Dr, Royal Birch Blvd, and Rocky Ridge Dr.) will be impacted given the closure of Rocky Ridge Road and Crowchild Trail.

The City of Calgary traffic engineers did not take into consideration any people outside our community accessing our community roads. Specifically the proposed Latter Day Saints temple directly servicing 18,000 members throughout the week, the Royal Victory Church expansion, the people who use our communities 3 church facilities at night, or the increase in traffic volume from Cochrane and NW Community residents accessing our communities proposed LRT station. Instead of all of these outside members directly accessing the church facilities one block up Rocky Ridge Road, these people will be accessing the churches and LRT from these 5 residential roads. These roads are in front of our community center, our playgrounds, our school zones, our baseball & soccer fields, our toboggan run, our bus stops and school bus stops, our walkways, pathways and driveways.

This increase in traffic on these residential roads puts all pedestrians, drivers and our children at an increase risk of getting hurt. Please review the proposed traffic volume statistical data sheet, approved by the City of Calgary.

• TRAFFIC VOLUMES - Final.doc

-- Lauree Phillips

Progress

The R3C3 is setting up a technical meeting between the R3C3 technical Subcommittee, City engineers and the Provincial engineers in the next week or so.

Incidentally, the timing is very good as Minister Blackett is in the
process of setting up a community Open House between the City, Province
and the community for the week of 30 March.

-- Mike Simoens

The Original Plan

Here are the current City/Province plans for the interchanges:

• RR Road and Crowchild LRT Map1.pdf
• Road Closure and Stoney Trail Interchange Map.pdf

We really do hope to find an alternative that keeps RRR open.

-- Mike Simoens


[UPDATE - March 25]

fixed the links to these files.

Some History on Rocky Ridge Road

It is clear that the road was originally supposed to be temporary. When we moved into Rocky Ridge in the late nineties the road was a two-lane country road with signage that it was a temporary access to Crowchild Trail and no one expected that it would remain open at Crowchild Trail for long.

However, to our surprise and delight the road was widened and all signage regarding the temporary access were removed. This happened to my best recollection before year 2000. The widening of the road was mandated by the city with the responsibility for the construction the developers.

It seems clear to me that the signage was removed to accommodate developer’s ability to sell the properties in both Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak.

Curious isn’t it?

-- Arun and Anne Gatha

Proposed Rocky Ridge Road Closure update

The proposed closure of Rocky Ridge Road was on the agenda of a Council meeting on Monday, 9 March.

At the Public Hearing on the issue a number of Rocky Ridge and Royal Oak community members spoke to voice their opposition to the proposed closure. Council has tabled the two proposed bylaws which pertain to the issue which means that no decision was made at the meeting. The issue will again be before Council on 27 April.

-- André van Dijk


[UPDATE - March 20, 2009]

Reference material:
The RRROCA submission to the City of Calgary Public Hearing held on 9 March.

• Bylaw30D2009Submission_RRROCA.pdf

A letter from MLA Lindsay Blackett to the community association prior to the same Public Hearing

• Letter re RR Road Action List.pdf

[UPDATE - March 20, 2009]

There will be a meeting between the R3C3 technical Subcommittee, City engineers and the Provincial engineers as well as an open house between the City and the Province.

see: Progress - March 20, 2009

Our Message!

The proposed closure of Rocky Ridge Road will have devastating effects on the community and there is vibrant opposition to it. Viable alternatives that will render the proposed closure unnecessary do in fact exist! From a technical and financial point of view the proposed closure is unnecessary and all that is required to resolve this issue is political will!

Please voice your opinion, you can make a difference.

-- Mike Simoens