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