Endless streams of Range Road traffic, dangerous speeding, and pre-serving green space are of paramount importance to many Takhini residents, new research has found.

On Tuesday, the Takhini Neighbourhood Association released a report on its engagement with member residents.

The work was conducted from November 2023 through February 2024.

The report concluded that the preservation and protection of the neighbourhood’s unique green areas is a top priority to participants.

“Heavy motor vehicle volume, congestion and extreme speed along Range Road and at Two Mile Hill, coupled with a poor active transportation network, were also of significant concern to participants,” the association said.

A local motorist was charged with careless driving after a Feb. 27 collision between the car he was driving and an RCMP SUV at the Range Road-Two Mile Hill intersection.

The closures of the roads involved spurred a traffic nightmare for morning commuters, centred in both Takhini and in areas kilometres away.

Four priority issues were identified in the report that represent concerns within both priority areas:

• Establishment of McIntyre Creek Park.

“The proposed boundaries fail to fully protect the creek’s watershed and may facilitate the establishment of roads through existing green space,” the association says.

• École Whitehorse Elementary School’s relocation from Fourth Avenue to an unspecified area off Range Road Takhini, with construction now slated to start in 2026.

“This will increase traffic on Range Road, may impact green space and may necessitate the establishment of a new road through valuable green space,” the association says.

The Yukon government has yet to specify the fate of the nearby Takhini Elementary School and the softball diamonds to accommodate the new school.

• Range Road traffic.

“Motor vehicle traffic on Range Road poses safety risks to Takhini residents and inhibits adoption of active transportation,” the association says.

• Alaska Highway expansion.

“Noise from traffic and access to recreational areas need to be considered in the planning process,” the group said.

“Our members told us clearly that the association needs to work hard to protect our neighbourhood’s unique green space and find a way to make Range Road less dangerous to residents,” added association president Jennifer Dagg.

“We look forward to working with all levels of government on solutions that benefit our neighbourhood and others in the city.”

The report recommends that the association pursue a number of actions:

• Request that the Yukon government and City of Whitehorse conduct a comprehensive, up-to-date study of traffic on Range Road prior to any final plans for the re-establishment of Whitehorse Elementary in Takhini.

“This would establish a baseline understanding of traffic patterns and improve understanding of the impacts of increased school traffic through the neighbourhood.”

• Seek clarity from YG and the city on the impacts the school’s relocation will have on traffic and green space in Takhini.

• Seek clarity from YG on the timeline for the expansion of the Alaska Highway where it passes Takhini and seek to be involved in the planning process.

• Work with YG, the city, Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council to have the final boundaries of McIntyre Creek Park protect the creek’s full watershed and all green space adjacent to Takhini, with an assurance that no new roadways will be established within or immediately adjacent to the park.

The full report can be downloaded from the association’s website:

Takhini Neighbourhood Association engagement report 2023-2024.

The association was established in the fall of 2023 by residents of Takhini East, North and West.

It seeks to improve communications with governments, other organizations and between neighbours.

It also aims to support and participate in projects that will have a positive impact on the community.

While the association seeks to improve the quality of life for all Takhini residents, it only represents those who choose to become members.