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Gateway Program (Vancouver)

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The Gateway Program is a $3.0 billion[1] regional transportation project for Metro Vancouver that is being run by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation. On January 31, 2005 the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation introduced the Gateway Program as a means to address growing congestion and reduce travel times.[2]

A map of the Gateway Program's projects.

Port Mann Bridge/Highway 1

The PMH1 Project proposes widening Highway 1, a new Port Mann Bridge and upgrading interchanges on British Columbia Highway 1 in order to address congestion through this corridor.

The Port Mann Bridge will be replaced with a new 10 lane bridge and the bridge will be tolled.

The project will also feature rapid bus lanes. This will include transit priority access to Highway 1, park-and-ride facilities, new transit loops in Surrey and Langley as well as 20 new buses [3].

The bridge includes separated pedestrian and cycling lanes across the Port Mann Bridge, and is also being designed to accommodate the eventual addition of Light Rail Transit underneath the bridge.

The proposal includes widening Highway 1 between McGill Street in Vancouver and 216th street in Langley. The pre-design concept proposes one additional lane in each direction between the Port Mann Bridge and McGill Street. The bridge itself will feature five new lanes, two reserved for high occupancy vehicles and commercial vehicles. On the Surrey side, two additional lanes are proposed from the bridge to 200th street allowing for one HOV lane in each direction. Finally, there will be one additional lane in each direction on the section from 200th street to 216th[4].

Interchanges from Vancouver to Langley will also be upgraded to increase interchange capacity and improve safety [2].

The majority of these improvements will occur within the existing right of way of Highway 1. The PMH1 project is scheduled to be finished in 2013 [2].

South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR)

A new four lane, 80 km/h (50 mph) highway along the south side of the Fraser River extends from Highway 17 in southwest Delta to 176th street in Surrey, with connections to Highway 1, 91, 99 and to TransLink's new Golden Ears Bridge connector.

The South Fraser Perimeter Road will provide a new east-west transportation corridor that will provide new connections the Deltaport. The stated goal is to reduce the volume of regional truck traffic on local roads and reduce idling on local roads.

The Burns Bog Conservation Society has expressed concerns that the South Fraser Perimeter Road will endanger Burns Bog[5]. Attempts to mitigate these impacts have been made through refinements that occurred as a result of public consultation and the Environmental Assessment process. In response to the mitigation measures proposed the Environmental Stewardship Branch of Environment Canada wrote that "...that the changes are not sufficient to alleviate its concerns related to the impacts of the Project on Pacific Water Shrew (PWS), hydrology, aerial deposition, and ecological integrity of Burns Bog.".[6] [7]

The Gateway Program says that it is committed to protecting and supporting the restoration of Burns Bog. The SFPR Project will be working with the Burns Bog Scientific Advisory Panel to develop systems that will improve the existing drainage / hydrology of the bog. Although the SFPR alignment does not go through the Burns Bog Ecological Conservancy Area [8], there is concern that it would effect a surrounding hydrology and have an adverse affect on the Conservancy Area[9].

It is estimated that over 90 hectares (222 acres) of farmland will also be lost to the project[10]. There have also been concerns expressed about pollution near residential neighborhoods and schools[11].

The SFPR is expected to be completed by 2012[2].

North Fraser Perimeter Road (NFPR)

The North Fraser Perimeter Road will provide a continuous route on the north side of the Fraser River from New Westminster to Maple Ridge.

The Gateway portion of this route originates within the City of Coquitlam on United Boulevard, immediately west of King Edward Street and continues eastward through the municipalities of Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows, along the Mary Hill Bypass and Lougheed Highway (17 km) and ties into TransLink's future Golden Ears Bridge.

Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange

The new Pitt River Bridge, currently under construction, will replace the two existing swing bridges that cross the Pitt River. A new interchange is also being built to replace the at grade intersection at Lougheed Highway and the Mary Hill Bypass.

The new structure will be a seven-lane cable-stayed bridge and will be located between the two swing bridges, which accommodate 4 lanes of traffic including a counter flow system for peak hours. The new bridge will include three lanes of general purpose traffic in each direction as well as one eastbound lane for slower moving trucks accessing the Canadian Pacific intermodal yard at Kennedy Road.

The new bridge also includes separate pedestrian and cycling walkways. This includes a new cycling on ramp as well as connections to local trails on both sides of the bridge as well as a separated pathway on the bridge deck. The new Pitt River Bridge will also be designed to accommodate the addition of Light Rapid Transit.

The project is being funded by the federal and provincial governments. As part of its recent Asia Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative, the Government of Canada has committed $90 million in funding for costs associated with the construction of the bridge and a new grade-separated interchange. The Province is providing $108 million.

The new bridge and interchange are expected to be complete by the end of 2009 to coincide with the opening of the Golden Ears Bridge.[2] East of the new bridge, the Lougheed Highway requires only minimal improvements. From the Pitt River to the new Golden Ears Bridge interchange, the highway is already divided and four to six lanes, with few intersections.

Criticism

Burnaby city council,[12], Vancouver city council[13] and the GVRD (now Metro Vancouver) directors have passed resolutions opposing the the highway 1 portion of the project.

David Suzuki speaks at the Global Day of Action on Climate Change in Vancouver.

Groups opposing the program include the Livable Region Coalition, a group based south of the Fraser called The Gateway 40 network, a group of urban planners[14], the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation(SPEC) and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. The groups argue that increasing the highway capacity will only increase the traffic over the span and encourage suburban sprawl. The Livable Region Coalition has urged the Minister of Transportation, Kevin Falcon, to consider more viable solution to reducing congestion, including more rapid transit, and improved bus routes.[15]

The David Suzuki Foundation claims the project violates the goals of the Livable Region Strategic Plan and does not consider alternative forms of transportation.[16]

The provincial government studies, conducted as part of the Environmental Assessment Process, show an increase of 176,000 tonnes per year in greenhouse gas emissions[17]. An analysis by SPEC found that for these studies they included Whatcom County emissions when calculating the baseline and left them out when calculating the impact of Gateway. When this is factored in the studies predict a 31% increase in on road emissions [18].

Groups supporting the project include Get Moving BC and the BC Truckers Association.

See also

References

  1. ^ name = "Ministry Report" >"Gateway Program Definition Report" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation of British Columbia. January 31, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Gateway Program Definition Report" (PDF). Ministry of Transportation of British Columbia. January 31, 2005. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.translink.bc.ca/files/buzzer/2007/Buzzer__Oct19.pdf
  4. ^ http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/reports/pm-h1/phase2_consultationsummary/PMH1_Phase_2_Cons_Summ_Rpt.pdf
  5. ^ "Submission to Environmental Assessment Office". Burns Bog Conservation Society.
  6. ^ http://www.burnsbog.org/PDF/EnvCanadaLetterNov2007.pdf
  7. ^ http://www.burnsbog.org/PDF/EnvCanadaLetterNov2007.pdf
  8. ^ June 18, 1998
  9. ^ Burns Bog Conservation Society » Resources » Sustainable Development Strategy
  10. ^ "Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition Submission to Environmental Assessment Office". Sunbury Neighbourhood Association.
  11. ^ http://www.sunburyneighbourhood.ca/SFPR.htm
  12. ^ "Burnaby Public Consultation on Provincial Gateway Program" (PDF). City of Burnaby. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  13. ^ [vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20060606/documents/ttmin.pdf "Standing Committee Minutes"] (PDF). City of Vancouver. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  14. ^ Ward, Doug (June 20, 2006). "Twinning Port Mann 'tough sell' at city council". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Will Freeway Expansion Kill the Livable Region? Questions about the B.C. Government's Port Mann and Highway 1 proposal for the Vancouver Region" (PDF). The Livable Region Coalition. 2004. Retrieved 2007-02-11. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ "Proposed twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 expansion" (PDF). David Suzuki Foundation. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
  17. ^ http://a100.gov.bc.ca/appsdata/epic/documents/p247/d24666/1189031210771_a472fd1478e9414c83aed4d70a214df5.pdf
  18. ^ http://www.livableregion.ca/pdf/Cooking_the_Books_Report_Final_05-02-07.pdf
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