At a block party in Whistler's Emerald Estates neighbourhood last summer, residents were asked to share different concerns at a table designated for issues.
Two stood out from the rest: improving safety on Highway 99 at Emerald, and restoring access to recreational areas behind the neighbourhood like One Duck Lake.
Letters about the two issues were drafted, signed by more than two dozen residents, and sent to council for consideration.
In the case of the latter concern, it was the second time the issue was raised at an Emerald block party, said resident Karin Kausky.
Residents lost access to the recreation area—which includes trails, a wiffle ball course, One Duck Lake and vast swaths of forest—in 2016, when private development cut off public access.
"This is the second year that we've sent a letter (to mayor and council) requesting information about what's happening with that access, because the neighbours really value that access, but there still hasn't been any sort of solid reply," Kausky said.
"Hopefully there's something in the works and that's why we haven't heard, but it would be great to even know what they're working on or what's a possibility."
For the Resort Municipality of Whistler's (RMOW) part, there doesn't seem to be an easy solution.
A municipal spokesperson said in an email that while the RMOW is aware of the importance of the area to residents, it is continuing to explore access options and there are no updates on the situation at this point.
"That specific location is a challenge, and it's one that we are putting time and energy into," said Mayor Jack Crompton, adding that the RMOW is currently looking at options.
"At this point we don't have any concrete solution to the challenge."
While access to One Duck is a hot topic, the highway safety concerns are more glaring to Dave Clark.
Residents wanting to access the Valley Trail south to Whistler Village must first cross Highway 99—not always easy as traffic has increased in recent years.
"In my opinion, it's an accident waiting to happen," Clark said.
An Emerald resident for the past 12 years, Clark estimates traffic has increased (depending on the month) by almost 50 per cent since 2011.
He'd like to see a pedestrian-activated crosswalk installed at the neighbourhood.
Highway 99 is the jurisdiction of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI). Clark said that past discussions with the ministry have led him back to the RMOW.
"(MOTI says) well, you're talking about connecting a community to a community asset; it really has nothing to do with the highway ... go back to the municipality and ask for a tunnel or an overpass or a light,'" Clark said.
"I don't see those as being really financially feasible options. It, to me, doesn't make sense to go and look at building a three-quarters-of-a-million-dollar tunnel or a million-dollar pedestrian overpass like there is at Nordic.
"I really think the Ministry of Transportation has an obligation to look at how people cross their asset."
Ministry engineers have reviewed intersections at Emerald and concluded that a left turn lane or pedestrian crosswalk aren't warranted right now, "because of the lower 60 km/h speed limit and because traffic volumes drop considerably north of Whistler," a MOTI spokesperson said in an email.
"However, staff continue to monitor traffic flow and turning patterns, and will undertake another review of these intersections should traffic volumes increase significantly."
In the meantime, drivers are reminded to obey the speed limits and watch for pedestrians.
Residents with concerns are encouraged to reach out to the Ministry.
Jordan Sturdy, MLA for the region and opposition critic for transportation and infrastructure, said the request for a crosswalk doesn't seem unreasonable.
"We put in those pedestrian-activated ambers on Portage Road a few years ago in Pemberton ... I think it made everybody much more comfortable," he said.
"Something like that may be certainly worth considering."
Sturdy said he hadn't heard of the Emerald concerns yet, but encouraged all residents to reach out to him.
"If I don't know about it, I'm definitely not going to do anything about it," he said.
