How do you get around? By car, public transit or foot?
And have your travel ways changed since the pandemic?
These are some of the questions posed in a new City of Coquitlam survey aimed at gathering input for the next Strategic Transportation Plan.
The city is calling for feedback through its online poll, which is up until Sept. 5, as it looks to prepare future transportation needs.
The last Strategic Transportation Plan was adopted in 2012. Now, the city has the Evergreen Extension to Lafarge Lake–Douglas, as well as more delivery vans on the road and micromobility (e.g., e-bike) users.
City staff expect the plan update will take two years over five phases; the first stage is the current survey to gain community insights.
In it, participants are asked, among other things:
- how you get around
- what barriers you have to walking, cycling and using public transit
- if you work remotely or at an office
- if you own a gas/diesel or electric vehicle
- if you are a member of a shared mobility network
Respondents who complete the survey in full are eligible to enter a draw for a chance to win one of three $50 gifts cards to Coquitlam Centre mall or Kinetic Cycles, or a Compass Card through TransLink.
The revised document is also intended to align with other city policies like the Environmental Sustainability Plan, the Climate Action Plan and the Economic Development Strategy, as well as the city’s pledge toward Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — a major theme for the municipality in 2022.
"The City of Coquitlam has recently launched an update to its Strategic Transportation Plan to create a new 25-year vision for how we move people and goods in, around and through the city," Coquitlam engineer and transportation manager Dragana Mitic told the Tri-City News.
"In this initial phase, the city is gathering feedback through a survey (closes Sept. 5) to understand how people get around the city the challenges in using various transportation modes. The feedback we receive through this survey will be considered together with other input from partners and stakeholders, technical studies, other supporting plans and strategies and financial analysis over the next 18 months to create a plan that reflects the needs and priorities of Coquitlam residents, visitors and businesses."
To take the survey, go to letstalkcoquitlam.ca by Sept. 5.
