BC On The Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan
BC On The Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan
BC On The Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan
on the Move
A 10-Year Transportation Plan
MARCH 2015
gov.bc.ca/transportationplan
CONTENTS
Premiers Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Ministers Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Summary of Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
British Columbias Transportation Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Why Investments are Needed: Challenges and Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Public Engagement on B.C. on the Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan . . . . . . . . 10
Delivery of the Transportation Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
5) Investing in Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6) Investing in Cycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
7) Investing in Airports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
PREMIERS MESSAGE
British Columbians have built a strong, diverse economy, with people in every
part of the province working to build a prosperous and sustainable future.
While British Columbia has many competitive advantages including
a strategic position as Canada's Pacific Gateway and abundant natural
resources, such as natural gas we need to work to maximize our potential.
In September 2011, I introduced the BC Jobs Plan to help strengthen the
economy. Since then, more than 70,000 jobs have been created through
our focus on eight key sectors, including Transportation. I also launched
The Pacific Gateway Transportation Strategy 20122020, and we've made a
lot of progress since then.
Honourable Christy Clark
Premier of British Columbia
MINISTERS MESSAGE
British Columbians rely on our transportation network every day to
get to work or school, to access services, and to stay connected to each
other and to the world. Along with getting us to where we need to go,
transportation generates employment and underpins job creation and
economic development. Recognizing that the world wants what we have,
and consistent with the BC Jobs Plan, transportation is a critical part of our
effort to expand and open new international markets for key B.C. sectors
such as natural resources, tourism, manufactured goods, agri-food and
international education.
Our government has worked hard to develop B.C. on the Move making sure it reflects the needs and priorities
of British Columbians. From Oct. 14 to Dec. 12, 2014, we asked British Columbians to provide their feedback
on B.C.s transportation priorities over the next 10 years with the B.C. on the Move engagement. During the
engagement, the B.C. on the Move website was visited over 44,000 times and we received over 12,500 survey
responses from citizens all over the province. Over 100 meetings were held with over 550 representatives of
First Nations, local governments, chambers of commerce, port and airport authorities, and other interested
stakeholders. I also hosted a Twitter Town Hall. In addition, my Parliamentary Secretary, MLA Jordan Sturdy, met
with over 70 groups on Vancouver Island in early September, hearing first-hand the transportation needs of
Island communities.
I want to thank all British Columbians who took the time to participate in the engagement. This was an
unprecedented opportunity for citizens to join in the conversation and let government know about their most
pressing transportation needs. As we implement the plan, we will continue to engage with British Columbians,
and ensure that we make the best use of every dollar we invest along the way. After all, a safe, efficient and
cost-effective transportation network is the backbone of our strong economy and our high quality of life.
Honourable Todd Stone
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES
The priority actions in this plan will be key to our transportation investments and strategic policy
actions over the next 10 years. This plan will enhance our safety, mobility and connectivity,
allowing us to keep pace with our many expanding sectors and ensuring that our transportation
improvements remain affordable.
1) Rehabilitating
Highways,
Bridges and
Side Roads
Increase investment to $180 million over the next three years to repair
and replace provincial bridges
page 12
Invest $60 million over the next three years to upgrade roads in northeastern
B.C. in support of the natural gas industry
Invest $9 million over the next three years for new and upgraded
rest areas throughout B.C.
2) Improving
Highway
Safety
Invest $75 million over the next three years in a new Road Safety Improvement
page 16
Program
Invest $30 million over the next three years in intersection safety
improvements in communities throughout B.C.
to reduce the duration of highway closures
Implement strategies for drivers to stay out of the left lane and not impede
other traffic
Work with ICBC to explore opportunities to allow drivers more choices to use
slow-moving vehicles and other mobility devices in smaller communities
SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES
3) Improving
Highway Capacity
and Reliability
page 20
Invest approximately $1 billion over the next three years to ensure our
network has the capacity and reliability to meet transport and trade needs,
with maximum safety and minimal delays and uncertainties
Highway 3 Crowsnest
Construct realignments and new passing lanes on sections of Highway 3 between
Hope and Princeton and from Cranbrook to the Alberta border
Work with communities along the corridor to improve safety through their
downtown cores
SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES
3) Improving
Highway Capacity
and Reliability
continued
page 20
4) Delivering
a Provincial
Trucking
Strategy
Upgrade and replace structures such as bridges and overpasses, so they can
accommodate the increasingly heavy and large loads that industry needs
to transport
page 34
Work with industry to identify priority locations for new and expanded
parking, staging, inspection pullouts and chain-up/off areas for trucks on key
corridors throughout B.C.
5) Investing
in Transit
page 37
Fund one-third of the cost of new rapid transit projects, and the Pattullo
Bridge, provided they can be accommodated within the provincial fiscal plan
and the investments are supported by a business case
Work with the region to secure federal funding for rapid transit projects
6) Investing
in Cycling
page 40
Invest $18 million over the next three years to partner with communities to
build new bike lanes and trails throughout B.C.
SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES
7) Investing in
Airports
page 42
8) Enabling
Efficient Ports
and Rail
Invest $24 million over the next three years in the new B.C. Air Access
Program
Support development of the aviation industry near B.C. airports
Engage the federal government to enhance B.C.'s aviation sector
page 44
9) Sustaining
and Renewing
Ferries
page 48
10) Building
Partnerships
with First Nations
page 50
11) Improving
Accessibility
page 51
12) Protecting
the Environment
page 52
Invest $3.9 million over the next three years to deliver invasive plant
management programs
Deliver 1.8 million square metres of hot-in-place recycle paving every year
Promote the use of cleaner fuel alternatives, such as natural gas for
heavy-duty commercial vehicles, CNG for buses and LNG for ferries
INTRODUCTION
British Columbians are linked to each other and to the world by an integrated transportation
network that moves people and goods by road, rail, air and sea. Transportation is key to B.C.s
success in 2013, it contributed $10.8 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and directly
employed more than 121,000 people.
In response to evolving transportation needs, we are moving forward with a new 10-year plan, B.C. on the Move.
This plan provides a comprehensive road map for transportation investments and strategic
policy actions over the next 10 years. The plan presents a series of priorities for action to improve the
provincial transportation network and showcases several short- to medium-term investments. Over the
next three years, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will invest almost $2.5
billion to improve British Columbias transportation network. This plan will build on the success of
our governments 2003 transportation plan, Opening Up B.C., which resulted in new infrastructure investment
throughout the province, improving safety and reliability and growing the economy.
B.C. on the Move reinforces governments commitment to invest in transportation infrastructure in every corner
of the province. This plan will enhance our safety, mobility and connectivity, allowing us to keep pace with our
rapidly expanding resource sectors and ensuring that transportation improvements remain affordable.
Atlin
Fort Nelson
Dease Lake
Telegraph
Creek
Dawson
Creek
Smithers
Masset
Queen
Charlotte
City
Prince
Rupert
Port
Edward
George
Kitimat
Sandspit
Quesnel
Anahim Lake
Bella Coola
Williams Lake
20
LEGEND
Port Hardy
Highway Corridors
Rail Corridors
Campbell River
Ferry Corridors
Airports
Ports
Provincial Border Crossings
International Border Crossings
Golden
Kamloops
Powell
River
Comox
Port Alberni
Tofino
Ucluelet
Nanaimo
Port Renfrew
Whistler
Penticton
Kelowna
Castlegar
Cranbrook
Vancouver
Trail
Abbotsford
0
Sooke Victoria
50
100
200
km
3 Class 1 railways
300+ airports, heliports and other air facilities
19 international border crossings
3 international ports, 4 regional ports and 40 local ports
40+ ferry routes
This plan has been shaped by the input of British Columbians. Between Oct. 14 and Dec. 12, 2014,
British Columbians had an opportunity to provide input on their transportation-related priorities.
The engagement included over 100 meetings throughout the province with First Nations, local governments,
transportation authorities and other interested stakeholders, along with a Twitter Town Hall, several hundred individual
submissions and a survey that drew over 12,500 responses from throughout B.C. In addition, MLA Jordan Sturdy,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, met with over 70 groups on Vancouver Island in
Sept. 2014 to hear about the transportation needs of Island communities.
top priority
SUMMARY REPO
95%said keeping highways, bridges and side roads in good condition was
RT
A 10-Year Transpo
Public Engageme
rtation Plan
nt Summary Repo
rt January 2015
A full report on the results of the public engagement process can be found in
B.C. on the Move: A 10-Year Transportation Plan Public Engagement Summary Report.
10
11
WHAT WE HEARD
95% AGREED that
keeping existing highways,
bridges and side roads in good
condition was important.
12
Increase
investment to $180 million
P
13
Invest
$60 million over the next three
P
14
Invest
$9 million over the next three
P
15
16
I
nvest $30 million over the next
P
W
U
ndertake a review of the traffic
P
ork with provincial policing agencies P
and other incident-response partners
to reduce the duration of highway
closures
17
E
nhance and improve Driver
P
Information Systems
DriveBC website
Highway 1 Victoria
C
ontinue to develop and implement
P
ca/2014/05/28/cone-zone-campaign) to improve the safety of roadside workers, along with promoting road safety
through initiatives such as "Shift into Winter" (http://shiftintowinter.ca/).
18
I
mplement strategies for drivers to stay
P
out of the left lane and not impede
other traffic
E
nable municipalities to allow
P
I
ntroduce new regulations to clarify the
P
I
mprove public safety in B.C.s
P
W
P
ork with ICBC to explore
www.gov.bc.ca/Highway16Corridor
Northern Health Connections and BC Transit
transportation services
19
20
WHAT WE HEARD
73% AGREED that
expanding and improving
highway, bridge and side
road capacity was important,
with stakeholders particularly
focused on Highways 1, 3,5,
16 and 97.
Continued investment in the
rehabilitation and expansion of
highways, bridges and side roads
was the top theme in meetings
held throughout the province with
First Nations, local governments,
and other key stakeholders.
Malakwa Bridge
Monte Creek to Pritchard
Pritchard to Hoffmans Bluff
Planning and design is also underway for additional
four-laning projects, including:
21
22
23
This priority will help ensure that residents of, and visitors
to, the Okanagan can safely get on and off provincial
highways. It will also focus safety upgrades on important
regional side roads like Westside Road.
24
HIGHWAY 3 CROWSNEST
Highway 3 travels 850 km east-west from Hope through the Okanagan and Kootenays
to the Alberta Border, serving the industrial region of the East Kootenays and other
communities along the route. Over $200 million has been invested in the Highway 3
corridor since 2001. The Province has been working closely with the Highway 3 Mayors and
Chairs' Coalition to deliver on their priorities for the route.
25
26
Cariboo Connector
The Province will work with local governments,
including Cache Creek and Quesnel, to identify future
project priorities to improve safety and reduce traffic
congestion through their communities.
27
28
29
30
Malahat corridor
31
32
33
WHAT WE HEARD
73% AGREED that
upgrading highways and
bridges to facilitate heavy
hauling was important;
support increased to 91%
in the northeast.
34
35
throughout B.C.
Explore partnership opportunities with the
36
5) INVESTING IN TRANSIT
Public transit is an essential component of British Columbias integrated transportation network.
Many British Columbians rely on public transit to commute to work or school, to access services
and leisure opportunities, and to connect with friends and family.
Access to public transit is a key priority of government, which is why we partner with communities
to ensure that 90% of British Columbians have access to this important service. This fabric of transit
services supports community livability, and contributes to provincial and regional environmental
sustainability objectives, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
Building on the achievements of the 2008 Provincial
Transit Plan, the Province is committed to working with its
partners to increase transit ridership, and to continue to
support the increased adoption of cleaner-energy transit
vehicles, such as the new compressed natural gas (CNG)
fleets recently introduced in Nanaimo and Kamloops.
Over 285 million transit trips were taken throughout B.C.
in 2013. This is expected to increase over the coming
years, particularly in urban areas as new generations shift
to a lower reliance on personal vehicles.
WHAT WE HEARD
Rapid transit and commuter passenger rail
37
38
The region's transit system includes the SkyTrain network, a driverless three-line fully separated advanced
light rapid transit system. The Evergreen Line is a new SkyTrain line under construction that will provide fast,
frequent and convenient rapid transit from Coquitlam to Vancouver via Port Moody and Burnaby.
39
6) INVESTING IN CYCLING
Cycling promotes health and fitness, and helps reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and traffic
congestion. Promoting cycling also supports economic growth through tourism and recreation.
For more people to cycle instead of drive, they must
feel safe and comfortable. Investments in cycling and
pedestrian infrastructure including separated bike
paths and wider shoulders, bicycle/pedestrian overpasses,
crosswalks and intersection lighting help to promote
safety and comfort for those travelling by bike.
WHAT WE HEARD
72% AGREED that enhancing
cycling infrastructure and improving
transportation choices were important.
To achieve these goals, the ministrys cycling infrastructure program, Bike BC, has created
partnerships with local governments. These projects enable more people to cycle safely to and
from work and school and for recreational purposes. Since 2001, 55 communities have partnered
in the program and provided 180 cycling projects, including new bike lanes, separated paths and
shared roadways.
The Province will provide $18 million to the Bike BC costsharing program to fund municipal and regional cycling
projects, and to help encourage cycling and walking for
commuting, recreation and tourism. When combined
with investments from partners, this investment increases
to $36 million.
40
6) INVESTING IN CYCLING
41
7) INVESTING IN AIRPORTS
Aviation is critical to growing the B.C. economy it supports jobs, enables investment and
facilitates travel, tourism and trade within the province, Canada and internationally.
Connecting With the World: An Aviation Strategy for British Columbia was released in 2012 as part
of the BC Jobs Plan. Its vision is for British Columbia to have an aviation sector that is viable
and competitive in the global marketplace, enabling passengers and goods to connect with
destinations around the world through B.C. airports.1
Investments in aviation are needed to connect citizens
to jobs, their communities and destinations around the
world. Aviation is key to industry, including oil and gas,
mining and forestry. The aviation industry itself is an
economic driver, creating opportunities for aerospace
companies to develop manufacturing, training and other
aviation-related services.
WHAT WE HEARD
70% AGREED that it is important to support the
improvement of infrastructure such as runways and
terminals at regional and small community airports.
Many local government stakeholders emphasized
42
For more information on Connecting With the World, please see th.gov.bc.ca/airports/documents/2012_AviationStrategy.pdf.
7) INVESTING IN AIRPORTS
43
44
Port of Kitimat
45
A new overpass on Roberts Bank causeway, separating road and rail traffic, opened in October 2014
Continue to support the completion of the Deltaport Terminal, Road and Rail improvement Project to increase
Continue to collaborate with port and private sector partners to identify and support road and rail access
requirements as projects are implemented
Carry out multi-modal corridor analysis of infrastructure, so growing trade from resource sectors can move efficiently
46
47
WHAT WE HEARD
This includes:
48
49
50
51
52
Wildlife crossing
Working in partnership with local environmental
groups, two culverts will be replaced on Highway 4
in the Kennedy Lake area in 2015 to improve fish
passage and habitat.
53
54
To make this plan a reality, the Province has committed almost $2.5 billion over the next
three years and will continue to invest similarly over the 10-year period. To fully maximize the
provincial investment in the transportation network, partnerships with First Nations, the private
sector, and local and federal governments will be essential to effectively implement the priorities
and commitments presented in B.C. on the Move. Where partners are committed to cost-sharing
and providing resources to mutual priorities, the Province will actively pursue and invest in
projects.
The Province has a history of being successful in collaborating and cost-sharing with partners.
With significant resources available to B.C. through the New Building Canada Fund over the
next 10 years, the Province will continue to actively pursue federal government cost-sharing on
projects around the province.
55
CONCLUSION
British Columbia has one of the most resilient economies in Canada and the world, and
transportation investments have been vital contributors to British Columbias success.
The transportation network is critical to a healthy, vibrant and prosperous British Columbia.
B.C. on the Move provides a clear plan to address our transportation challenges and to take
advantage of the opportunities in the years ahead.
56
Photo Credits
PAGE 7: Bottom left Ken Wong Photography, Bottom right courtesy of Canadian Pacific Railway
PAGE 37: Courtesy of the Regional District of Nanaimo
PAGE 44: Courtesy of Canadian Pacific Railway
PAGE 46: Courtesy of Port Metro Vancouver
PAGE 55: Bottom left courtesy of Port Metro Vancouver
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gov.bc.ca/transportationplan