Transportation

A Call for Modernization of Metro Vancouver’s Infrastructure

By Roy L Hales

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Over a million people could into the Metro Vancouver area during the next three decades, adding another 600,000 automotive trips per day to the already congested roads. the existing infrastructure will not be adequate. The Mayors’ Council, of 23 mayors in the region, are calling for modernization of Metro Vancouver’s infrastructure.

Calling for Modernization of Metro Vancouver’s Infrastructure

Their Vision for Regional Transportation is a preliminary study, which BC’s Minister of transportation has yet to comment on.

Mayor Richard Walton of North Vancouver identified the need to eliminate congestion points.

“We want to give people options, whether its walking, biking, taking transit or driving their car” said Mayor Greg Moore of Port Coquitlam.

That said, the mayor’s have set a target of increasing the percentage of walking, cycling and transit trips from “from 25% today to 36% by 2045— representing more than 1 million new trips by these modes and about half of the way to our target of 50%”[1]

Some of the specifics of this plan include:

  • “Maintaining and upgrading the 2,300 lane kilometres of Major Road Network to keep people and goods moving, enhance safety, and connect our communities.”
  • “Expand capacity of existing rail lines: more train cars and expanded stations and systems to meet the growing needs on the Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines and the West Coast Express”
  • increasing the network of high frequency bus service, “with service every 15 minutes or better, all day, 7 days a week.”
  • “2,700 kilometres of bikeways, including 300 km of fully traffic separated routes”[2]

Electric Vehicles Not Included

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The plan does not yet include provisions to expand the existing EV infrastructure (Click on image to expand) – Courtesy Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association

One of the items not included is an electric vehicle infrastructure.

As Bruce Stout, President of the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association points out, “The mayors are still expanding freeways which increases the volume of traffic and leads to the degradation of our air quality unless we move to zero-emission vehicles.”

The Cost

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Courtesy The Mayors’ Council Vision for Regional Transportation

The cost of implementing this plan is estimated at $7.5 billion.[3] This would start at approximately $110 million per year and rising to $390 million per year by 2020.

One of the ideas put forward to fund this project is using $250 million of the BC Carbon Tax currently paid by Metro Vancouver residents and businesses.

The proposed improvements to transit are also expected to result in an additional $500 million in new transit fare revenue.

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