Committee examines traffic safety concerns

47A Avenue in Ladner could see some safety improvements

Sandor Gyarmati

sgyarmati@delta-optimist com

The city is eyeing potential traffic safety improvements for several South Delta streets.

The Transportation Technical Committee a few weeks ago discussed traffic and safety issues along 47A Avenue in Ladner, prompted by concerns from local residents and businesses following several accidents

Peak hour turning movement and pedestrian counts at the intersections of 47A Avenue with Delta, Garry Street and 48B streets are to be collected

Possible road safety measures will be identified for consideration and public feedback, the committee was told

Correspondence was also received regarding traffic speed concerns along 53rd Street between Ladner Trunk Road and Linden Drive

The engineering department agreed to install a temporary speed reader board after a local resident suggested the installation of boards similar to those on Central Avenue.

Committee members also discussed correspondence regarding traffic speed concerns along 36th Avenue A resident noted that drivers were positioning their vehicles in the gaps of the speed cushions to avoid the vertical deflection

The engineering department said updated traffic data would be collected to confirm the effectiveness of the speed reduction devices installed on the avenue.

Committee members also discussed concerns regarding vehicles speeding on 68th Street between River Road and 60th Avenue

Updated traffic data was also to be collected and reviewed to confirm the level of compliance with the posted speed limit

Meanwhile, on another front, the city with the help of a consulting firm this year, will be conducting community engagement to obtain feedback to help develop Delta’s Vision Zero strategy.

Vision Zero is a multinational road traffic safety project that aims to achieve a road system with no fatalities or serious injuries

One of the key differ- ences between Vision Zero and traditional approaches to road safety is that traffic collisions are considered preventable, viewing safety as a shared responsibility between system designers, policy makers and road users

According to the city, the strategy should focus on addressing safety for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists

The consultant for Delta’s Vision Zero plan is to come up with a strategic document, which is to outline key performance indicators and set interim targets, as well as determine priorities for road safety interventions to guide investments.

The consultant is to also come up with cost estimates for each type of countermeasure identified in a crash analysis report

School District assessing childcare needs

Survey underway to see which elementary schools need programs

Sandor Gyarmati

sgyarmati@delta-optimist com

The Delta School District is undertaking a parent survey to determine which elementary schools are in need of before and after school childcare programs

Due to the recent addition of childcare to the Ministry of Education, school districts are becoming more connected to childcare school programs, the school district notes, adding it is now gathering more information from parents of students on the needs here in Delta.

The Delta Board of Education last year approved a new childcare policy for the district, which aligns with provincial legislation

Bill 8, the Education Statutes Amendment Act, came into effect in March 2020

It’s an amendment of the School Act related to childcare facilities located on board of education properties, including a prescriptive order from the Ministry of Education regarding the formal establishment of board policies to govern such facilities

The amendment includes a provision that school boards may pro- vide childcare programs on district properties to students enrolled with the district if both the board is a licensee and that the childcare program is provided only on school days before or after school hours

The board may charge fees to a student to whom the childcare program is provided if the fees are not more than the direct costs incurred

A school board may also permit a licensee to use board property to provide a childcare program

If a board permits a licensee to use board property, the board must ensure that any revenue obtained by the board from that use is not more than the direct and indirect costs incurred

If a childcare program is provided on board property by the board or by a licensee other than the board, a school board must ensure that the program is in accordance with the district policy and does not disrupt or otherwise interfere with educational activities

The school board was told the new policy is a “Deltafide” version of a template used provincewide, developed by legal counsel and shared through the BC School

Trustees Association.

The Delta policy provides the board options on how the district can provide childcare as a licensee as well as clear direction on how it can establish contracts and partnerships with licensed childcare providers

In 2020, Delta council approved a new Delta Childcare Strategy and Action Plan

The strategy includes 24 recommendations which are grouped into three strategic directions including increasing accessibility, increased affordability as well as a focus on quality.

Among those recommendations is working towards a goal of adding 1,051 new childcare spaces over 10 years to reach the Canadian average ratio, as well as having a partnership with the Delta School District to explore options for co-locating childcare programs in elementary schools

The city received a grant through the Community Child Care Planning Program to undertake a childcare needs assessment, which found 80 per cent of survey respondents reported that there is an inadequate supply of childcare services

SCHOOL DISTRICT DRAFT BUDGET 2023/2024

We would like to invite the community to provide input regarding its priorities prior to development of the Delta School District draft budget for 2023/2024.

Public Input Session

Please join us for an online discussion as we gather important feedback on the community’s priorities for the draft budget

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 7:30 – 9pm Via Zoom Video Call

Pleaseregisterathttps://forms

Prior to the online session, we encourage you to visit our website www deltasd bc ca for more information on the budget.

You can also provide feedback by emailing budget@deltaschools.ca

Connect with us: www deltasd bc ca • @deltasd37 facebook com/deltaschooldistrict

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