“This is potentially the most important public hearing we’ll have during the entire three years of this council,” mayor Ed Mayne told the media, calling for the entire community to come out and give input at Thursday’s transportation open house.

Transportation is a hot issue in Parksville and the city is inviting everyone to Knox church to see the proposals in the works and get a chance to make sure the city hears their feedback.

The city has been working to update the 2002 Master Transportation Plan over the last six months to identify key issues and update their long term plans, including looking at the impact of the Jensen Avenue extension and an update of the Downtown Core Area Parking Study.

Working with outside consultants at Boulevard Transportation Group, the city’s engineering and operations department is looking to identify strategies to improve the ability of residents to meet their transportation needs, while aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve road safety, develop accessible infrastructure and improve community well-being.

Mike Squire, city manager of engineering, stressed that the public input is a crucial part of the decision making process and key to the overall plan review.

Mayne also urged “average citizens” to attend the open house since they don’t want the feedback limited to the usual extremes of environmentalists and developers.

“This is so important to the future of the city,” Mayne said. “The most frustrating part of these public meetings is we don’t hear from those in the middle.”

Mayne said he wants to find a way to break through the apathy and reach those who don’t believe their voice has any influence.

The more input the city receives, the more the updated plan will reflect the needs of the community and Mayne points out the transportation work could lay the foundation for many changes in the city’s future.

“This study could be the start of all the things we want to happen in the downtown core,” he said for example, but stressed that it will also impact people throughout the city.

As part of the review they held an open house in June and did a walkabout and bike-about to explore the transportation network.

Michael Skene, president of Boulevard Transportation Group, will make presentations at 5 and 7 p.m. and consultants and engineering staff will be available to answer questions and receive comments throughout the evening.

There will also be visual displays with various options for downtown road, bike and pedestrian network improvements, downtown parking, intersection improvements and road upgrades.

There will be displays on the Jensen Road extension options, though Squire said that is only be a portion of the whole review and they are interested in feedback on all kinds of transportation issues.

The purpose of the Master Transportation Plan is to document current conditions, make recommendations for the future based on the city’s development plans, provide a basis for adopting more innovative and sustainable transportation and updating the Long Term Capital Plan for the funding of recommended improvements.

Mayne said that while he obviously has his opinions about what the city should do, this meeting is really about what the community wants and the city will listen to the will of the people.

The final open house is Thursday, November 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Knox United Church.