First step in New Westminster's Transportation Master Plan launches Thursday
New Westminster’s location is a blessing and a curse.
Being in the centre of the Lower Mainland helps attract business and residents. That also makes it attractive for commuters from Surrey, Coquitlam and other parts east.
But 2012 could mark the beginning of the end of that curse as the city revises its Master Transportation Plan. Some work has begun behind the scenes, but it will go public for the first time with an open house at city hall tomorrow (Thursday) from 5 to 8 p.m.
The initial session will explain the process and outline the main issues. No magical answers are expected to emerge to solve the city’s traffic woes.
“It’s a long range plan, it’s pretty important to the city so we’re taking our time,” said Jerry Behl, city transportation engineer. “There’s always a tendency for people to hone in on one particular aspect they want dealt with. You want to hear about those, but at the moment we’re looking at just what are the issues and existing conditions.”
Top priority
One group that plans to participate every step of the way is the New Westminster Environmental Partners. When it outlined its priorities at its first board meeting of the year the transportation plan was at the top, ahead of trash, the threat of an incinerator being built in the city and recycling.
“This is far and away the most important,” said newly elected president Reena Meijer-Drees.
NWEP has long promoted a transportation hierarchy that starts with pedestrians at the top followed by cyclists, rapid transit, bus services, goods movement and, finally, motor vehicles. Meijer-Drees said it will be difficult ensuring that order isn’t flipped around.
“It’s always hard to put private motor vehicles last. It’s going against 30 years of transportation planning. It’s not an easy thing. The city says it, the city of Vancouver says it has this hierarchy, [but] it’s rather difficult to put in practice. We would love to see it happen,” said Meijer-Drees. “Personally, it’s my firm conviction we’re going to see some fairly major changes in how we’re going to set up our city in the next 30 years.”
Pattullo problems
The Pattullo Bridge is sure to be a hot topic as the process proceeds. The aging structure will get double the talk in 2012 as TransLink, which operates the bridge, hosts public consultations this spring on whether to refurbish, rebuild or move it (Meeting dates have yet to be confirmed).
“One of our major concerns is going to be what they’re going to do with the Pattullo Bridge, and we’re going to look at what options don’t increase traffic through New Westminster,” said Meijer-Drees.
She pointed out oil prices and other global factors could play a role in how the Royal City evolves in years to come.
“In the long run, is looking at electrification of a transportation grid the thing to do? Freight movement is also an important part of the hierarchy. No transportation plan should ignore how we get things into and out of New Westminster, and in the long run that’s going to have to be electric, or maybe along the river. You can’t start removing those options,” she said.
Outlining the process
The study process timeline includes looking at future direction this spring with a possible adoption of the plan in the fall. The committee will be co-chaired by councillors Jonathan Cote and Jaimie McEvoy.
“The next phase might be like where do we want to be in the short term, long term, medium term? What are the goals for the city?” said Behl.
Once a baseline is established, then they’ll get into the visionary stuff, said Behl. “But then the really hard thing is these are all great, but here is the money and the timing and the planned program to get there over 20 years.”
At Thursday’s open house, the city’s consultants, Urban Systems, will detail the existing conditions and travel characteristics. They’ll also present survey findings from about 250 respondents. Behl said issues such as lack of sidewalks in key areas and steep hills are examples of some of the concerns expressed.
“There’s nothing extraordinary in that, but this is what we’ve heard so far, and this is an opportunity to add to it,” said Behl. “This is the first of many, but this is still in the setting the scene stage.”
• A similar open house to tomorrow’s, focusing on seniors will be held Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Century House, 620 Eighth St.
For more information go to Master Transportation Plan on the city's home page.
COMMENTS
Let's keep comments:
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters.
We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.