[Bunk]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Shawn Ripley
He works as a consultant for land developers, and has been on the Calgary Planning Commission. This suggests he is knowledgeable about land use issues, but may find it hard to say no to former developer clients if elected. He seems qualified to be a councillor, but doesn't live in or have any connection to ward 2. He strikes me as an opportunist who only selected this riding because of no incumbent, and I don't think he'd be an effective representative for ward issues. His website is the most professionally designed aesthetically speaking, but some of the links don't work. Never contacted me back when I phoned the campaign about it. Platform is short on detail and long on platitudes.
Don't recommend. http://shawnripley.ca/

A lot of the detailed stuff is in the "practical solutions" section of his site, rather than the higher level "vision"

For instance, his solution for the Evanston traffic debacle is a good one for the interim - Dowhan just says 'we need a solution!' without offering much on how. That said, Bernie seems like a solid guy. Amongst all the candidates Wong and Ripley seem the most qualified.

The Issue:

Evanston is a Community in NW Calgary, currently under development. The community was planned with primary access points at Symons Valley Road (via Symons Valley Parkway), 144th Avenue, and 14th Street NW. However, at this phase in development only the Symons Valley Road is complete, leaving one paved access. With a current population of 8,274 and being the fastest growing community (1680 additional residents from 2012 to 2013) the obvious result is severe traffic congestion during peak hours, particularly the morning commute. Residents nickname the Symons Valley Parkway the “Symons Valley Parking lot”, and it can take 15-20 minutes simply to exit the community.

Temporary Solution:

Creating a lane reversal on portions of Symons Valley Parkway and Symons Valley Road to increase capacity and reduce congestion during peak hours.

Both Roads are four lane divided. Leaving the community Westbound, several hundred metres from Symons Valley Road on Symons Valley Parkway, you could create a crossover to middle Eastbound lane. Pylons or barriers could be placed during the morning rush to create one reversed lane Westbound and one normal Eastbound lane. At the intersection, you could accommodate 3 left turning lanes onto Symons Valley Road. This would require the car on the reversed lane, to enter Symons Valley Road on another lane reversed segment Southbound. Again, pylons would separate normal Northbound traffic on the curb lane, from the reversed Southbound lane in the middle. A few hundred metres along, you could create a crossover on the median (perhaps temporary asphalt) to merge into the two normal Southbound lanes before they reach the Stoney Trail interchange. This would create 50% greater capacity at the intersection, dramatically reducing congestion and the amount of time to exit the community. It would cost relatively little (in the tens of thousands) to execute in any capital costs of temporary asphalt, as well as operating cost putting up signage and placing/removing traffic pylons.

Creating a lane reversal allows a cost effective temporary solution to moving people in and out of their community while construction on the other access points moves ahead. The lane reversal in Kensington on Memorial Drive, a very busy area during the rush periods, has proven very effective, and the infrastructure costs of a similar solution on Symons Valley Road and Parkway are not excessive.

It is my belief that a this kind of creativity may be able to make a significant difference, and is worth exploring in a variety of new communities in Ward 2 and across Calgary with access issues.