Her name isn’t up in lights, but lights are up in her name.
Amanda Burns was walking on Maple Drive one dark night near her home. It was 2019. It was winter. She was at Kube Street. All of this was normal, until a collection of events met at a point of impact where Amanda and a passing vehicle had a fatal collision.
Her family was devastated. She was the mother of a young son only three months old. She was only 33 herself.
The neighbourhood was upset right along with the Burns family. That road was notorious for its darkness, narrow shoulders, and nowhere to cross with pedestrian right-of-way. There are two schools on the street, there is a daycare on the street, and then the Johnston Bridge (Maple Drive and Johnston Avenue are one and the same, from one end to the other, with Plywood Road as the transition segment) became weight restricted so waves of transport trucks turned this quiet, semi-rural residential lane into a commercial transport thoroughfare.
This was all too much for Amanda’s sister Tammy Burns. The combination of grief and recognition of danger moved her fingers to craft an impassioned letter.
“That can’t happen to another family,” said Tammy, summarizing her worries.
She sent it to a number of traffic safety stakeholders, and one of them was Area A director Mary Sjostrom of the Cariboo Regional District (CRD). Sjostrom was moved, and started making calls. And more calls. And more calls. There were meetings. There were discussions. Most of the dialogue happened at the CRD’s safety committee table, with the RCMP, ICBC, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Emcon, School District 28, the City of Quesnel and others.
Nothing came quickly, but each stakeholder agreed that the concerns were valid. In fact, it was brought up, Maple and Kube were not the only dangerously dark and narrow spots. Tammy’s letter had gotten a bigger ball rolling, although it was rolling slowly.
One of the hold-ups was who was going to pay for the installation of these proposed lights and crosswalks? The local taxpayers had to be consulted.
“Our first public meeting saw over 70 supportive residents attending, along with CRD staff and myself,” said Sjostrom who experienced something new in her long career in local government. Residents who weren’t slated to be taxed on the project came forward to offer to share the burden so others wouldn’t have to pay as much, to ensure it got done.
The alternate approval process was used to gauge support, and it was a positive response from the taxpayers. ICBC kicked in money, at that point, and, working with BC Hydro, the first hurdle was leapt when 23 lights were installed.
Next came the crosswalks, but not just the traditional white bars of paint on the pavement and a pedestrian silhouette on a lamppost. Beacon crosswalks are next level installations, with bright flashing indicator lights and yet another streetlight to illuminate the people on the street below. ICBC again helped, and the transport ministry was heavily involved.
There are now three of those on Maple Drive, another one on Gook Road, plus the streetlight upgrades on both of those routes.
“To the Burns family, who have become friends over the past four years, I am glad that this community journey has added safety where tragedy occurred, and I hope it helps in the continued healing process for everyone,” said Sjostrom, who gave heartfelt thanks to ministry employees like Ian Grant and all those around the safety table who stepped up to help.
That healing process has been very public for father and mother Tom and Carla, plus Tammy, Tara Vanoni, Zach Froese, and many other loved ones. A magnolia tree was planted in Tom and Carla’s back yard at the base of a custom made wooden cross dedicated to Amanda.
“Aug. 20 is a year exactly since we put the tree in,” Carla said. “Now all the children of the family will see it grow, and they’ll know who it’s for.”
The family is already reminded of the tragedy each time they pass by the fateful spot, but now it will have a more positive effect as the crossing indicators and luminous street lamps show a brighter way than ever before in that sensitive area. The work isn’t done, though, said Tom. He still wants to see sidewalks installed, since children will always be using that road with the schools there.
He and the Burns family also want the Johnston Bridge to get whatever infrastructure work it needs to allow for trucks to cross again so many of them will avoid residential areas.
They don’t feel it’s right that schools on main roads like theirs do not have school zone speed limits, and the Burns family would like to see those reduced speeds through their neighbourhood and any other with schools alongside a busy thoroughfare. Their tragedy should never be repeated, they contend.
READ MORE: Quesnel woman killed in fatal collision
READ MORE: Maple Drive streetlight project to be put to voters this fall
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