Get Moving BC

Roddick stands up for SFPR

You have to hand it to Delta South MLA Val Roddick. Despite the wild accusations of some of the anti-Gateway folks in her riding, Val has stood up for the vital South Fraser Perimeter Road.

On Saturday, the Delta Optimist ran a piece by Ian Robertson, questioning the need and cost of the SFPR. He had four questions, all of which were answered by Roddick in an accompany column. Here are the questions, and the answers:

Robertson: In the initial estimate of SFPR, the province was going to fund $300 million ($658 million minus $358 million). The most recent math says $635 million ($1 billion minus $365 million) for B.C. taxpayers. Will B.C. build the SFPR? Where will all this money come from? Please explain.

Roddick: The initial cost estimate for the project mentioned by Ian Robertson reflects the proposed alignment from Fraser Heights to the Alex Fraser Bridge. When the SFPR was included in the Ministry of Transportation's Gateway Program in 2003, the scope was extended to Deltaport Way to help alleviate growing congestion along Highway 17 in Delta, and redirect regional truck traffic away from communities such as Ladner. It was later extended east to connect with TransLink's future Golden Ears Bridge connector road in Surrey.

Robertson: What additional funds has B.C. obtained from the Vancouver Port Authority and truckers to offset the cost of building this road for them?

Roddick: The Ministry of Transportation works closely with the Vancouver Port Authority to ensure an appropriate level of cost sharing.

Robertson: SFPR was to be open by 2009 by the time the third berth was operating. The berth will open about 2009-2010. When will SFPR be open? Will it be 2012? Will you limit traffic on Highway 17 until the SFPR is open? If not, how do we cope with a 50 per cent increase of trucks?

Roddick: The SFPR will be open in late 2012, and traffic impacts from the new third berth at Deltaport will be monitored carefully to ensure public safety. Personally, I am strongly advocating the completion of the southern portion of the SFPR (from Deltaport Way to Highway 99) by 2009.

Robertson: Given the Panama Canal will handle much of the increase in traffic by 2015, am I to assume B.C. will spend $635 million of taxpayers' money to build a road where its prime value will be for less than five years?

Roddick: Introduction of the expanded Panama Canal will not have a significant impact on traffic at Deltaport and the SFPR will continue to provide excellent benefits to the economy of Delta, the Lower Mainland and the province.

On the Panama Canal note, we should be doing everything we can to attract shipping away from the canal and into BC. It's not just smart economically, but it can make a huge difference environmentally. BC is several days closer to Asia than Panama, and getting those ships to shore saves an incredible amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

posted by Jordan Bateman @ 8:39 AM