We need Gateway
The Vancouver Sun reinforced today the need for the Gateway Program. Here is their lead editorial, in its entirety:A report from the Conference Board of Canada released recently argues that our global success and ability to attract international investment depends most critically on improving infrastructure.
In its study of global supply chains, the Conference Board said developing infrastructure was essential for business to seize opportunities and maintain global competitiveness, a key determinant of our future prosperity.
This is what the $3-billion provincial Gateway Program -- and the controversial twinning of the Port Mann Bridge -- is all about. Increasing trade with Asia, the expected quadrupling of container volumes at British Columbia's ports by 2020 and moving goods efficiently to market are driving this project. Relieving commuter traffic congestion is a welcome ancillary benefit.
Critics of the Gateway Program, particularly of plans to double the capacity of the 43-year-old Port Mann Bridge, paint a distorted picture of the problem and propose unrealistic solutions. Environmental activist David Suzuki, for instance, urged the government to abandon expansion of the bridge and widening sections of the 37-kilometre stretch of Highway 1 from Langley to Vancouver, saying more rapid transit, an expanded SkyTrain and bus service across the bridge are better alternatives.
These suggestions, however well- intentioned, will do little to accommodate truck volumes forecast to nearly triple between now and 2031. The B.C. Trucking Association estimates that gridlock costs roughly $500 million a year with the movement of goods slowed or stopped 75 per cent of the time. With 50 per cent of containerized goods transported to and from terminals in Greater Vancouver by trucks (the balance is by rail), the cost of congestion 14 hours a day is unacceptable.
For too long, however, Victoria has emphasized the problem of growing automobile traffic -- the number of cars is increasing at a rate of 20,000 a year -- and the resulting inconvenience to commuters, rather than the more important message that the network of highways, interchanges and bridges is a vital link to the global marketplace and a key component of Canada's international competitiveness.
For months, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has been telling anyone within earshot that the project is national in scope. Furthermore, he has put it in terms the federal government should understand: The Gateway Program is comparable to the St. Lawrence Seaway. Just as the seaway was key to developing trade with Europe in 1959, Gateway will be Canada's portal to Asian markets through the next generation. Given the national significance of the Gateway program, Falcon contends, it follows that Ottawa should contribute more than the $400 million over seven years it pledged in this week's federal budget. After all, building the seaway originally cost the federal government the equivalent of $6 billion in today's dollars and it has recently been contemplating a $10-billion to $20-billion rebuild of locks, dredge channels and other facilities.
British Columbians seem to understand the importance of the Gateway Program. They not only support it, but 77 per cent said in a provincial government survey that they are willing to pay tolls on the Port Mann, providing they are variable -- higher in rush hour, lower in off-peak times. Once the project is completed, the transportation department says commuters could see savings of 30 per cent over 2003 travel times. One study calculated that the benefit from fuel and time saved would be two-and-a-half times the expected toll of $2.50. In sum, travel time and operating cost savings are estimated at $8 billion over the 35-year life of the project.
The Gateway project not only holds the promise of easing traffic congestion, but opens possibilities for improved public transportation, including new bus routes and light rail along the Highway 1 corridor, an expansion of the cycling network and more HOV lanes.
Although the population in the 1,000 square kilometres of the Greater Vancouver Regional District is expected to grow to more than three million by 2031 from 2.1 million today, that's still low density by international standards (Greater London boasts eight million in 38 square kilometres), which makes mass transit alone impractical. The private vehicle will continue to be the main mode of people-moving in the GVRD for some time to come.
The Gateway Program recognizes this fact and sets out to deal with some of the region's major traffic concerns. But more importantly, it responds to the need to develop transportation infrastructure that will enable Canada to take advantage of its geography and successfully compete for Asian trade and the jobs that it will create in B.C.
It's like we always say... it's not transit vs. roads; it's yes to both.
2 Comments:
"Critics of the Gateway Program, particularly of plans to double the capacity of the 43-year-old Port Mann Bridge, paint a distorted picture of the problem and propose unrealistic solutions. Environmental activist David Suzuki, for instance, urged the government to abandon expansion of the bridge and widening sections of the 37-kilometre stretch of Highway 1 from Langley to Vancouver, saying more rapid transit, an expanded SkyTrain and bus service across the bridge are better alternatives."
"The Gateway project not only holds the promise of easing traffic congestion, but opens possibilities for improved public transportation, including new bus routes and light rail along the Highway 1 corridor, an expansion of the cycling network and more HOV lanes."
Yes, these critics have such a distorted picture, that the government is saying that it will do the things they ask for.
This is such a poorly written piece, which doesn't seem to be authored by a human, and simply regurgitates Conference Board figures, which a small child with a calculator could have produced. The 8 billion dollar savings over thirty-five years fails to acknowledge that by doubling the roads, you'll eventually double the traffic, within 10, 15 years it'll be clogged again. Is another doubling accounted for in that $8 billion dollar saving? Furthermore, commuters will be paying tolls for that long, simply to pay back the private interests who will probably fund the thing, should it go ahead.
People were allowed to be surveyed on the question of the toll, so to say, "British Columbians seem to understand the importance of the Gateway Program. They not only support it, but 77 per cent said in a provincial government survey that they are willing to pay tolls on the Port Mann, providing they are variable -- higher in rush hour, lower in off-peak times." is absurd. British columbians were never asked whether the bridge should be doubled, or whether rapid transit should be a priority, they were asked whether or not the thing should be paid for be tolls. They said yes. This could as easily have been because they don't want tax dollars to pay for a project that encourages increased auto-transport. To assert that they "not only support it, but..." is absolute editorial fabrication. The surveys and consultation done have not come near to asking this question, critics are cast aside, the project goes ahead.
"But more importantly, it responds to the need to develop transportation infrastructure that will enable Canada to take advantage of its geography and successfully compete for Asian trade and the jobs that it will create in B.C." If this is what it's about, then where's the development in Prince Rupert?, inland ports, etc?
This article smells like nothing more than a PR piece. I can agree that something needs to be done about congestion, but I should also say that something needs to be done about such biased reporting masquerading as reality.
The lead editorial March 22 in the Vancouver Sun is pure PR from the Campbell Liberals and yes its true China wants more trade with us, but lets not forget that those that live and will live in Delta, Surrey and the rest of the Fraser Valley are the ones that will pay the price. Poor air quality is already widely acknowledged to cause widespread respiratory problems in the aforementioned population and with increased port traffic it will only get several fold worse. Go to http://www.californiaconnected.org/tv/archives/498 and see how bad it is in Los Angeles, California.
The Federal and Provincial Governments do not care whether the Gateway Project is environmentally viable. If they did they would not have unilaterally decided to go ahead with it. They have ignored all the local studies done by local city planners that show that increasing roads are not the solution. American studies show the same conclusion, more roads mean more traffic.
Who out there has not noticed that gas prices are about to hit $1.20 per litre? Who's pocket book is not going to be severely affected now and in the future if there is no transit from their community to their place of work? Because the Gordon Campbell Gov't decided to build roads instead of Transit!
If you want to make a difference, don't waste your time reading the Vancouver Sun. Instead get involved. There are more than 30 community based groups opposing the Gateway Project and this Saturday March 31 between 2 and 5 pm at the East Ladner Community Hall there will be a rally against this Project. Come and show them that you want the right solutions to our growing areas, so we and our children will prosper in the future. East Ladner Community Hall is on HWY 10 just before it passes over Hwy 99. Its the only building on a corner and has a large barrel roof. Can't miss it. Come and join us Saturday and bring a banner.
Nic Slater
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