by Sonia Q and Sandy RB
On the evening of January 4, 2025, a tragic incident occurred on Hidden Creek Blvd, where two pedestrians were struck by an SUV travelling south through the playground zone. Witnesses reported the vehicle appeared to be speeding, and several residents immediately provided first aid and called 911. The driver initially fled the scene in his vehicle but later returned and appeared to be arrested. The pedestrians were transported to the hospital, and we have since been informed that they sustained only minor injuries. While their identities and injury details remain unknown, we hope they have recovered both physically and mentally. We also express our gratitude to the residents who offered help.
This incident highlights the ongoing safety concerns along key roads in our community, particularly Hidden Creek Blvd, Hidden Creek Way, and Hidden Creek Dr. The stretch of Hidden Creek Blvd leading down to Hidden Creek Dr is hazardous due to its poor lighting, incline, sharp bends, and high traffic volumes and speeds. Despite city and school buses stopping on both sides of the boulevard, there are no marked crosswalks here, including where the pedestrians were struck.
This event has underscored the need for Hanson Ranch to formally request a safety review of our busiest roads from the Mobility department. We are advocating for measures such as marked crosswalks, light controls like beacons or controlled crosswalks, and additional stop signs. In early January, Hanson Ranch directors reached out to the Ward 3 office for support. Councillor Mian’s office recommended working with our Neighbourhood Partnership Coordinator (NPC) to liaise directly with Mobility. An email was sent to the NPC, requesting that Mobility revisit safety concerns in our area. The NPC confirmed that Mobility would review the situation and consider further changes during their spring project cleanup, including feedback from previous communications.
We encourage residents to submit 3-1-1 requests for stop signs, lit crosswalks, crossing beacons, painted crosswalks, and any other safety measures they feel are needed. 3-1-1 requests are tracked and provide a direct way to voice concerns.
It’s important to note that some traffic safety measures, like reducing the speed limit on Hidden Creek Blvd to 40 km/h and installing speed humps, are still in progress. Mobility has stated that all measures must be in place for at least a year before their effectiveness can be assessed. While we recognize the need for patience, we strongly believe a review of the few existing intersections and crosswalks, and the lack of controlled crosswalks, is urgent.
We will continue to keep everyone informed on the progress of our request to Mobility and any other updates. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
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