People and goods need to move. VALTAC examines issues, opportunities and solutions to make the Lower Mainland’s Transportation System work better .

There are many single interest transportation plans in effect or being created in the Lower Mainland. These represent investments of several billions of dollars.

There is no comprehensive Transportation Plan for the Lower Mainland.

All modes of transportation can benefit from a comprehensive master transportation plan. For example: new crossings of the Fraser River can save billions of taxpayers dollars if they serve the needs of road, rail and marine traffic. Strategically located shared crossings can efficiently connect intermodal facilities, ports, and communities.

While no transportation plan can minimize the costs of all sectors, a carefully considered transportation plan can optimize the costs and benefits to all transportation modes.

An interest which is often overlooked is the Public Interest. Infrastructure may be built by Provincial Highways, Federal Ports or Rail interests, but it will be paid for by the public as taxpayers or consumers. Therefore effective planning is in the PUBLIC INTEREST

The Transportation Plan must span a long term: at least 50 years.

The Federal Minister of Transportation must mandate the plan as the Federal Government controls most transportation modes and provides significant funding for provincial and regional infrastructure.

The Transportation Plan must allow flexibility to accommodate change and require discipline in amendment to retain a careful balance of interests including the Public Interest.

Until there is a comprehensive integrated optimized Transportation Plan for the Lower Mainland, great care must be taken not to eliminate critical options such a building a road in the industrial corridor along the Fraser River without adequate provision of rail.

SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS

The information below is a summary recommendation of what a long range master transportation plan should include.

Long Range Master Transportation Plan
We need one Lower Mainland Plan with three parts to it.

· Vancouver area including North and West Vancouver, Richmond, New Westminster and Burnaby

· North of Fraser communities, Coquitlam to Mission

· South of Fraser communities, Delta to Hope.

Plans to include roads, rail, bus and rail public transit, bridges, park and ride, parking, and, bicycle routes. The BC Minister of Transport would initiate the Plan and the action group would include one rep. From each jurisdiction plus groups such as TransLInk, port authority’s, and GVRD.

The group would have one year to come up with an approved plan. The plan would be subject to an annual review and update. All existing plans would be reviewed and either deleted or incorporated in the master plan, which should then be integrated with municipal transportation plans. All new projects would conform with and fit in with the Master Plan.

Re-Routing of Container and Coal Train Rail Traffic
The Federal Minister of Transport, working with the provincial Minister, will be asked to order the railways to stop all container and coal rail traffic on the old BCE right-of-way from north Surrey to Chilliwack. Traffic to Delta Port would be via existing CN and Burlington Northern, or, from the existing CN line to Delta Port by way of a new rail line, which aligns with the new South Perimeter Road. A new rail bridge over the Fraser River at or near New Westminster should also be built to eliminate going back to Mission to cross. This would eliminate the need for some of the very expensive rail overpasses in Langley and Surrey and permit using the BCE right-of-way rail for passenger service and local rail freight. This re-routing would save the railways $millions over the long haul.

Light Rail Rapid Transit, Surrey to Chilliwack
The old BCE right-of-way would become available for transit once container and coal rail traffic was re-routed. The line serves existing town centres, post secondary educational facilities and many commercial/industrial areas. It would also permit rail transit between Vancouver and Abbotsford international airports.
To ensure maximum usage park-and-ride plus bus feeder routes would be needed. This one initiative would save $billions and get people out of cars.

Livable Region
With the present system we have uncoordinated development and transportation trying to catch up. The result is very costly transportation upgrades, traffic gridlock, environmental problems and much wasted time moving people and materials. We are in danger of having another Los Angeles type city in the Fraser Valley. The agricultural lands of the valley are threatened. A Livable Region Strategy must be developed in conjunction with the master transportation plan. The BC Minister responsible for Municipal Affairs must get involved in developing a Livable Region Strategy that fits and enhances the transportation system.

General
We cannot afford to plan development and transportation as we do at present. We must get value for all money invested and we must have transportation systems that are practical, cost effective and efficient. Let us work together and do what is right.