Welcome

Thank you for attending today’s Open House about the Replacement Project.

The purpose of this Open House is to: • Share project information • Answer your questions and hear your perspectives on the project • Obtain your input • Provide information on next steps

Please take some time to review the display boards, speak For more information with the Project Team and complete a Feedback Form. after this Open House, please visit masseytunnel.ca About the Project We Are HEre

The George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project is a multi-stage planning initiative that will incorporate technical analysis and broad-based public input to ensure we have a timely solution in place to meet the growing needs of the communities, businesses and stakeholders that rely on the George Massey Tunnel.

By starting now, we maximize the potential to make the best decisions to benefit all British Columbians. Understanding the Need Current Phase

Phase 1 of consultation focuses on the following key areas to assist in understanding the need for the project:

• Community and provincial interests • Crossing design elements • Benefits and opportunities of a new crossing • Connection to and support for local, regional, provincial and national growth and transportation plans

Your input from Phase 1 will help determine the collective interests that need to be considered in developing For more requirements and potential options for the George Massey information after Tunnel replacement, for further consultation in this Open House, Phase 2: Exploring the Options. please visit masseytunnel.ca Why Now? Planning for a Replacement

Lions Gate Bridge

Ironworkers Memorial Bridge The Lower Mainland relies UBC

Pitt River Bridge on the George Massey Tunnel

Pattullo Bridge Knight Street Queensborough PerimeterSouth Fraser Road Bridge Arthur Laing Bridge Bridge Bridge • More than 80,000 vehicles use the tunnel each day, with YVR

Fraser Surrey lineups extending up to 5 kilometres during rush hour. Docks Sunbury • The tunnel is an important connection to Lower Mainland Deas Island Regional Park Tilbury Burns Bog 200 St destinations, including two of the Lower Mainland’s busiest Steveston George Massey employment centres: Richmond and .

Tunnel Vancouver Landfill

South Fraser Fraser South Perimeter Road Perimeter Westham Island • The tunnel provides access to and from the Peace Arch border Boundary Bay Airport South Surrey crossing, Tsawwassen ferry terminal and YVR, as well as to the Tsawwassen First Nation Crescent rapid transit service between Richmond and Beach Tsawwassen

Tsawwassen Peace Roberts Bank Arch downtown Vancouver. Ferry Terminal Border Crossing Point Roberts The George Massey Tunnel serves many users across the Lower Mainland.

Aging Infrastructure – Doing nothing is not an option

Despite seismic upgrades in The tunnel is the only With significant planned growth At 22 metres below sea level, the tunnel 2006, the tunnel currently has major in communities on both sides of is Canada’s lowest elevation crossing, 10 – 15 years of serviceable life crossing with a single the Fraser, additional capacity is yet it is too shallow to accommodate before major operating systems lane of traffic in the required to support trade, tourism the navigational access needs of will need to be replaced. off-peak direction. and employment growth. increasing ship sizes. Who Uses the Tunnel?

How do you use the tunnel? Please see questions 1 – 7 in your Feedback Form.

Cyclists & Pedestrians

Cyclists and pedestrians are not permitted to travel in the tunnel, as there are no shoulders and the sidewalks and lanes are narrow. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure currently operates a year-round shuttle service to transport cyclists through the tunnel. HOV and transit currently carry up to 46% of people through the tunnel. Current and Future Growth

Limited Peak Period Growth Over the past 10 years, average annual daily traffic volumes have seen minimal growth. This is attributed in large part to the fact that the tunnel is already at capacity for a good portion of the day, as well as to improved transit service.

Significant Off-Peak Growth The counterflow system was installed in 1981; however, a single traffic lane is no longer sufficient to manage off-peak direction volumes. Long lineups are causing congestion, which negatively affects employment growth, tourism and trade.

Forecast Growth A number of proposed developments are expected to have a significant effect on tunnel demand in the future, including the following:

• Population growth in South Surrey, White Rock and Richmond • Changes in traffic patterns resulting from the introduction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road • A number of planned commercial/residential developments in Delta and South Surrey • Proposed growth in container capacity at Port Metro Vancouver’s Roberts Bank terminal • Proposed Developments at YVR, including plans to develop a new business park on Sea Island Life Cycle & Safety of the Existing Tunnel

In planning for the replacement of the George Massey Tunnel, the life cycle and safety of the existing tunnel are key considerations.

Earthquake and Seismic Stability As part of the retrofit program in 2006, strengthening of the tunnel sections and connections was carried out to improve seismic stability. However, more work is needed to meet modern standards.

Traffic Safety The tunnel, including the Steveston Highway and Highway 17 interchanges at either end, experiences the highest rate of incidents along Highway 99. High accident rates combined with severe congestion significantly affect reliability of this corridor. The tunnel is also an important alternate route for emergency response and traffic rerouting in the event of an incident on other Fraser River crossings.

Have you been stuck in traffic at the tunnel? Please see questions 8 – 11 in your Feedback Form.

Community, Provincial and National Interests

Interest

Even with doubling of transit and modest increases in other modes of transportation such as carpooling, cycling and walking, additional capacity Congestion Reduction for cars will be required to accommodate all of the projected growth for the area.

Economic Development, Metro Vancouver is an important economic gateway to the Asia-Pacific region - 80,000 jobs in the Lower Mainland rely on Port Metro Vancouver. Trade and Goods Movement Key factors to consider with this project include commercial and industrial development, and growth in marine shipping.

Any new crossing would need to be considered in the context of existing land use, access routes, origin and destination patterns, private Land Use property impacts and municipal development.

Important environmental considerations for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project include air quality, emissions, and fish and wildlife Environmental Protection habitats. Any form of replacement will include detailed environmental analysis and will require regulatory approval.

Agricultural Land Richmond and Delta are important agricultural areas and the Agricultural Land Commission would be involved in the review of proposed Protection replacement options.

The lower Fraser River is an important area for marine- and land-based recreation. While there may be some short-term effects associated with Recreation and Health construction of a new crossing, the project may have the potential to create new recreational opportunities.

Community Livability Community livability interests such as accessibility, visual impacts and noise are key considerations in developing new infrastructure.

Heritage and The lower Fraser River is an important area for First Nations. The Project would consider potential archaeological sites and will consult with Archaeology First Nations and heritage groups in determining an appropriate solution to the replacement of the tunnel.

Affordability and Cost The consultation and planning process will help confirm the scope, cost and affordability of the replacement project.

What do you think? Please see questions 12 – 13 in your Feedback Form. Towards a Solution

A number of existing provincial and regional plans provide context for determining the most appropriate solution for a replacement of the existing tunnel. These include:

BC Jobs Plan Consideration will be given to supporting economic opportunities and job growth. Provincial Transit Plan Consideration will be given to increasing transit share in Metro Vancouver from 11 to 17 per cent by 2020. Transport 2040 – TransLink’s Long-Range Transportation Strategy Consideration will be given to supporting strategies to keep people and our economy moving by focusing on providing opportunities for people to limit automobile use. Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy: Metro Vancouver 2040 – Shaping our Future Consideration will be given to enhancing the livability and sustainability of the region, including protecting industrial lands and guiding transit infrastructure investment.

Port 2050 Consideration will be given to supporting Port Metro Vancouver’s vision to be the most efficient and sustainable gateway for customers, benefiting communities locally and across the nation.

Thank You. Please Stay Involved.

Thank you for participating in Phase 1 of the consultation for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.

Your feedback is important. Please take some time today to complete a Feedback Form, or visit masseytunnel.ca to view consultation materials and complete an online Feedback Form. We also encourage you to sign up at masseytunnel.ca to receive ongoing project updates, including details about Phase 2 consultation, which is planned for early 2013.

Help us understand more about who you are. For more Please see questions 18 – 29 in your Feedback Form. information after this Open House, please visit masseytunnel.ca Key Design Considerations

Draft design considerations have been identified for use in developing potential options for replacing the George Massey Tunnel. They reflect the tunnel’s importance to the community, provincial and national interests, as well as best practices in design engineering.

• Alignment with community, regional and national objectives • Support for transportation alternatives • Congestion reduction • Jobs and economic growth • Climate change adaptation and environmental protection • Agricultural lands • Community livability • Cost

What do you think? Please see questions 14 – 17 in your Feedback Form.