Madison’s Formal Report Proposal

To: Dr. Erika Paterson, ENGL 301 professor

From: Madison Strasman, ENGL 301 student

Date: June 22, 2022

Subject: Proposal for installing light on the UBC Highway

Audience

The audience of this report will be addressed to Keta Kosman, the president of the Pacific Spirit Park Society.

Introduction

 Southwest Marine Drive, also known as the UBC Highway connects the University of British Columbia to Metro Vancouver. Between these two regions lies the Pacific Spirit Regional Park, part of the University Endowment Lands owned by First Nations, and established in 1989. Commuters to the University rely on Southwest Marine Drive as a major route through the park as well as 16^th Avenue, University Boulevard, and 4^th Avenue.

Statement of Problem

The UBC Highway has endured many incidents regarding pedestrians and drivers over the past years. This has caused the public to speak up on behalf of poorly lit streets as a contributing factor to the decrease in community safety.

Proposed Solution  

One possible solution to the poorly lit streets problem is installing new traffic lights along Southwest Marine Drive. With this, vehicles will be able to have better vision of their surroundings and additionally light up sidewalks with pedestrians.

Scope

 To assess the feasibility of installing traffic lights along Southwest Marine Drive, I plan to ask the following questions:

1. How will the First Nations People be affected?
2. Will the University Endowment Lands approve of this proposal?
3. Will lights interfere with the Pacific Spirit Regional Park and its wildlife?
4. Will lights draw more pedestrian traffic into the park?
5. What are the implications of unlit streets?
6. Is there an alternative method to providing lighting?

Methods

My primary data source will be consulting the UBC community through surveys conducted online as well as The First Nations People, University Endowment Lands, and Pacific Spirit Park Society via email. I will also collect data on the locations of incidents and survey students who use Southwest Marine Drive regularly.

Secondary sources will include studies on the Pacific Spirit Park and the University Endowment Lands as well as urban planning and costs to install lighting.

My Qualifications

For three years I have been majoring in human geography and gathering knowledge on the importance of community input and community well-being, I have become intrigued after many news reports regarding incidents on the UBC Highway, and personal experiences, to investigate and improve the lighting system.

Conclusion

To prevent further incidents along the UBC Highway, lighting will need to be installed with the approval of the four groups as mentioned previously and with the questions intended to determine the practicality of this proposal.