Abbotsford City

Introduction:

Abbotsford is the 5th largest city in BC with a population of 149855 in 2011; however, the population was 140275 in 2006.1 The slowly growth of pollution predicts the slow development of the city. Since Abbotsford has small population and relatively small trade activities than Vancouver or Toronto, the urban construction and commercial center is not very intensive. In addition, very few of the buildings have more than 4 floors as well as Marshall Road. I’m living in Marshall Road, which is one of the main streets in Abbotsford. My purpose for this landscape analysis is developing how the intersection of Marshall Road and McCallum road is shaped by the environment and people.

The population in Marshall Road is 4405 in 2011 with the low growth rate of 1.1%



from 2006. The CMA of Abbotsford and Mission Area has a growth rate of 7%. 2The lower growth rate for my living area may due to the following reason:

1. Lots of buildings in this area are apartments for living, no many commercial zones exist. It is not a good place for investors to develop or invest for their business. So the growth is slow.

2. There might have more people move out than move in.

Even though the grow rate of people in this area is low, Marshall Road is still a main road throughout Abbotsford and near highway.

The intersection:



From the map which was captured in year 1974, we can find out that the Marshall road Area was not a plan area for agriculture. It was more expected to be a commercial and resident living area. That’s why it becomes a main street and the intersection of Marshall Road and McCallum Road is also the main intersection in Abbotsford today.

This intersection is busy every day since it is located close to Highway 1 of Canada and the connection of two main Streets of Abbotsford (Marshall Road and McCallum Road). There are two gas stations (Shell and Husky) on both sides of the intersection, which are very convenience for drivers from highway to have a rest and refuel their gas. The highway 1 was built for more than 50 years since the highway 1was built in 1962.3 The freeway policy was established in year 2001 and drivers can be more convenience to refuel its gas while passed by Abbotsford. That’s why the two gas stations are existed in this location during these years.

Each gas station has a small convenience shop, which provides drivers drinks and food. Free parking is available in gas stations, but only for short time. Free parking with time limit can give drivers a short rest time and reduce the busy traffic in the gas-station. The two gas-stations are located at different side of street; cars