Dear Editor,

I attended the open house for the proposed new Mufford overpass. I carefully examined the images of the new design and alternate ones that had been considered.

It was disappointing to not see the much-asked-for route directly over the railway tracks at Langley Bypass and Glover Road. I was told it was not presented because of the cost (estimated $100 million) and other reasons.

That route should have been acknowledged, with a rationale for why it was not recommended. That would have at least allowed those who have lobbied for it to believe their recommendation had been equally considered.

It was most disturbing to learn the process for public consultation has been minimized to completing the “Comment Form” handed out at the open house.

The Township’s Paul Cordeiro informed me that the public has about two weeks to fill in the comment form, which can be found at www.robertsbankrailcorridor.ca.

It is now in the hands of the provincial government, and will not require approval from our mayor and council.

For those of us who have been deeply involved in this project, our voices have been reduced to a “comment” sheet.

I would like to encourage all citizens of Langley who are concerned about the design to ask the mayor and council and ask for a public meeting to publicly voice our concerns. The two nights offered for the open house were not convenient times for working families or families with children.

Why are we, the taxpayers, now not allowed anything more than voicing our concerns on a comment sheet?

A design that is yet another band aid solution still robs Langley of five acres of valuable farmland, simply takes traffic off of the Bypass and redirects it to 64th Avenue.

It is a $55-million dollar project that is all about pushing more heavy rail through Langley as quickly as possible.

Sonya Paterson, Langley