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Regional Transportation Investments a Vision for Metro Vancouver

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Regional Transportation Investments a Vision for Metro Vancouver Regional Transportation Investments a Vision for Metro Vancouver REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS Mayors’ Council on Subcommittee on Regional Transportation Transportation Investment Richard Walton, Chair Maria Harris Greg Moore Mayor, District of North Vancouver Director, Electoral Area ‘A’ Chair Wayne Wright, Vice Chair Lois Jackson Wayne Wright Mayor, City of New Westminster Mayor, Corporation of Delta Vice Chair Jack Adelaar Craig Keating Malcolm Brodie Mayor, Bowen Island Municipality Councillor, City of North Vancouver Derek Corrigan Heather Anderson Greg Moore Geoff Meggs (alternate) Mayor, Village of Anmore Mayor, City of Port Coquitlam Darrell Mussatto Wayne Baldwin Gregor Robertson Mayor, City of White Rock Mayor, City of Vancouver Gregor Robertson Malcolm Brodie Ted Schaffer Barbara Steele (alternate) Mayor, City of Richmond Mayor, City of Langley Richard Stewart Brenda Broughton Michael Smith Dianne Watts Mayor, Village of Lions Bay Mayor, District of West Vancouver Mike Clay Richard Stewart Mayor, City of Port Moody Mayor, City of Coquitlam Derek Corrigan Deb Walters Mayor, City of Burnaby Mayor, City of Pitt Meadows Ernie Daykin Dianne Watts Mayor, District of Maple Ridge Mayor, City of Surrey Ralph Drew Bryce Williams Mayor, Village of Belcarra Chief, Tsawwassen First Nation Jack Froese Mayor, Township of Langley REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS I PURPOSE II A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYORS' COUNCIL III VISION HIGHLIGHTS 01 WHERE WE ARE TODAY Planning framework 02 04 WHAT PATH ARE WE GOING TO TAKE? Contents 06 DEFINING THE VISION The 30-year Vision 06 The first 10 years 06 Map of 10-year investments 07 Invest, Manage & Partner actions 08 + INVEST 08 + MANAGE 17 + PARTNER 20 Timing and cost 23 Outcomes 28 Financial impact 31 33 HOW DO WE PAY? Why new funding sources are needed 33 The way forward on funding 34 The Big Picture 37 38 MAKING IT HAPPEN APPENDICES Appendix A: Actions to Invest Appendix B: Actions to Manage Appendix C: Outcomes Appendix D: Letter to Mayors’ Council from the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Appendix E: Detailed financial tables Appendix F: How to fund REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS Purpose In February 2014, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure asked the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation to confirm its transportation vision and to clarify the costs, priorities and phasing for investments and actions. In response, the Mayors’ Council established a Subcommittee on Transportation Investment, which has been working with support from TransLink, from Metro Vancouver and from staff from municipalities around the region to define this Vision, to establish spending priorities, and recommend new funding mechanisms capable of supporting those priorities. This document flows from those deliberations and is offered as a solution for our region moving forward. I REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS A message from the Mayors' Council As residents and leaders of Metro Vancouver, we have next decade. Firmly founded on years of planning by Metro an opportunity and a responsibility to make one of the Vancouver and TransLink, this Vision clearly identifies the world’s most beautiful, livable and sustainable regions even new services we will need and the mechanisms by which we better — economically, socially and environmentally. We will pay for their construction. It also commits to demand- also face a risk that if we do not address the growth-related management policies, like mobility pricing, and to transit- congestion and transportation challenges before us, things supportive land-use changes that are necessary to ensure could soon get much worse. we get the most value out of every dollar we spend on transportation infrastructure. Metro Vancouver boasts an integrated transportation network, and through our regional transportation authority, TransLink, The Mayors’ Council is calling on the Provincial Government, we have consistently expanded service to meet growing once again, to make additional amendments to the TransLink demand. We have added a new rapid transit line every decade governance structure. The changes made to the South since the 1980s and have continued to invest in bus services Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority do not go that link all parts of the region. Recent bridge and highway far enough to instil public confidence in the operation of projects have also created major capacity increases, especially TransLink. It has always been, and continues to be, the Mayors’ for goods movement in and out of the increasingly busy Port Council request that the Provincial Government amend the Metro Vancouver. legislation to provide our Council with oversight of TransLink’s operating budget. If this does not occur, we are not at all But time does not stand still. Metro Vancouver is expected to confident that our Vision or Investment Plan will be realized. welcome one million new residents and 600,000 new jobs by 2040, adding a potential three million automobile trips per day. We hope that you will take the time to read this Vision Imagine the impact on congestion, on economic capacity and document. We have worked hard to identify an investment on environmental quality if we fail to meet that new demand package that is both necessary and affordable, and to with adequate new service and infrastructure. Even at current identify the fairest and most efficient options to pay for population and traffic levels, we lack funding to meet regional these improvements. The result is a path forward that can needs and desires for new transportation infrastructure — from work to everyone’s advantage — safeguarding our economy, road upgrades to transit investments. invigorating our quality of life and protecting our health and environment. We look forward to hearing your feedback and In the face of this challenge, the Mayors’ Council on Regional hope that this Vision will earn your support. Transportation has created an ambitious but practical Vision for the next 30 years — and an urgent, equitable and affordable investment and management plan for the II REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS HIGHLIGHTS Highlights Metro Vancouver is known for its livability, including a highly 1. Invest functional, integrated transportation network. But our region This Vision includes the highest priority transportation faces challenges, including 1 million more Metro Vancouver improvements. These are neither everything we want nor all residents expected over the next 30 years. that we ultimately need, but as the elected oversight, the Mayors must consider what we can achieve — prioritizing the To meet the challenges of growth and congestion in a way most urgent and effective investments. that is affordable and fair, the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation, representing 23 local elected governments has 2. Manage developed a common Vision for our transportation system and The Mayors also recognize that we cannot solve congestion proposed funding to pay for them. by investment alone: we need new tools to manage the system more effectively. Of these, the most effective tool is the same The outcome, whether you choose to travel by car, train, bus, one we use to allocate scarce resources everywhere else in bike, or by foot, will be to get you to your destinations quickly, the economy: pricing. A more consistent approach to pricing safely, and affordably with much improved transportation transit and roads is the single most cost-effective way to choices that support a competitive economy, a clean reduce congestion and overcrowding. environment and a high quality of life. 3. Partner The Mayors' Council proposes 3 key strategies to achieve the Successfully delivering this Vision also requires closer necessary improvements to our transportation system: coordination between all partners in order to ensure that the supportive conditions are in place for these investments to succeed — especially ensuring that land-use plans and transportation investments are well aligned. TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES A list of transportation investments, upgrades and services that are required to keep Metro Vancouver moving: ROADS · A Millennium Line extension from · 50% more SeaBus service: every CYCLING AND WALKING VCC-Clark to Arbutus Street along 15 minutes all day and every day, A new 4-lane Pattullo Bridge 2,700 kilometres of bikeways, · the Broadway corridor to serve increasing to 10 minutes during the · to replace this aging but vital including 300 km of fully traffic- current and future demand along morning and afternoon rushes connection separated routes: Making cycling a the region’s busiest bus corridor safer choice for both cyclists and · Service to new and growing lower- Maintaining and upgrading the motorists · density neighbourhoods across 2,300 lane kilometres of Major BUS & SEABUS SERVICE the region Road Network to keep people and · Better connections to transit 25% increase in bus service across goods moving, enhance safety, and · through improved walking and the region. This increase adds 400 80% more NightBus: Increased connect our communities · waiting facilities at or near transit more buses to the existing fleet of service for those who need to get stops and stations 1830 around late at night RAIL TRANSIT · 200 more kilometres of B-Line or · 30% more HandyDART service: SYSTEM MANAGEMENT Expand capacity of existing rail · Better routes: 11 new fast, frequent, Improved service for those lines: more train cars and expanded Expanded customer service reliable limited stop services
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