“Occupy” protest planned in Surrey to oppose major road projects

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      Surrey activist Imtiaz Popat is continuing to raise concerns about the impact a series of major transportation-infrastructure projects could have on his community that sits next to the Fraser River.

      Popat is helping to organize an upcoming protest he said is about highlighting the links between opposition to the new Port Mann Bridge, the South Fraser Perimeter Road, and the proposed expansion of the Pattullo Bridge.

      Popat argues the new 10-lane Port Mann Bridge, which recently had some lanes opened to vehicle traffic, is unnecessary and will not resolve the traffic-congestion problems it is intended to fix. He is also worried about traffic potentially pouring through his residential community to take the Pattullo Bridge as drivers seek to avoid the tolls on the new Port Mann Bridge. And he continues to voice opposition to the South Fraser Perimeter Road, a new four-lane route under construction between southwest Delta and Highway 1.

      “We don’t like this trucking highway going through our community and destroying our community, our ecology, and the river, which we really care about,” he told the Straight by phone today (September 20), referring to the South Fraser Perimeter Road. “…And we don’t want a six-lane Pattullo, and with this opening of the Port Mann, it’s just going to bring in added unnecessary traffic through our community onto the bridge, onto the Pattullo.”

      Popat, a resident of the Bridgeview area, raised similar concerns when he ran unsuccessfully for Surrey city council in last year’s municipal election.

      The “Occupy SFPR—Occupy the Freeway” protest takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. with participants planning to meet at Scott Road SkyTrain station bus loop and then proceed to a site at the south end of the Pattullo Bridge where work is being done on the South Fraser Perimeter Road.

      Similar protests were held earlier this summer. Popat said Saturday’s protest is planned to take place when construction work on the road project is not under way. He explained the event comes at the start of fall and will offer a chance to take stock and think about where opposition to the transportation projects goes from here.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      RealityCheck

      Sep 20, 2012 at 10:21pm

      He is the one percent.

      0 0Rating: 0

      frostback

      Sep 20, 2012 at 10:43pm

      Mayor Moonbeam's Luddites have to hide who they are, when they bring their act to Surrey. If they were really from this side of the river, they'd know that they can hold their meetings in a phone booth.

      Why don't they protest the plans to demolish the two viaducts? Vancouver already has the second worst traffic in North America. Or don't you think that blocking traffic impacts air quality?

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      Denise

      Sep 20, 2012 at 11:12pm

      Good idea Surrey residents, if we all came out then maybe we could stop this unnecessary cementing of our greenways. And for what so a few more cars with single occupants can burn more fossil fuels quicker? Oh and to move crap from Van. port to be exported in Delta port at the expense of farm lands, ancient First Nations burial grounds and thru Burns Bog!
      What insanity, and ugly as sin. Reminds me of Los Angeles in the 1970's!

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      Allan Ashby

      Sep 20, 2012 at 11:55pm

      If you decide to go to this idiot's demonstration, be prepared to be as welcome as the Ebola virus.

      Highway 1 at the Port Mann will be down to one lane, each way, for the entire weekend. That means that the Pattullo Bridge will be all but grid-locked, even if there are no stalls or accidents.

      Drivers who already waste 45 minutes a day, each way, have been waiting for new bridges for thirty years. But what do they know? You can take the opportunity to explain to them how misguided they are to be drivers. Explain the benefits of watching the "FULL" buses passing them by, if they ever manage to find a parking spot at a SkyTrain station.

      They will be sure to enjoy your visit, before you climb back onto SkyTrain, probably without paying. Tell them that you see yourselves as taking a 'activist' position, trying to delay improvements.

      But don't be surprised to find out that they see you as you are -- a pack of out-of-touch elitists, who've taken up the hobby of inflicting your opinions on them.

      0 0Rating: 0

      RealityCheck

      Sep 24, 2012 at 10:42pm

      Protest Fail.

      0 0Rating: 0