The Corporation of Delta COUNCIL REPORT Regular Meeting.

To: Mayor and Council . F.11 ON TABLE From: Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Regular Meeting August 14} 2017 Date: August 4, 2017

Provincial Review of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project

• RECOMMENDATIONS:

A. THAT a letter be sent to the Honourable , Premier of and the Honourable Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure urging the Provincial government to: (i) extend, or otherwise delay, the contract award process for the new bridge so that the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure has an opportunity to review the technical information and project rationale before making an informed decision regarding the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project;

(ii) to review recent Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure inspection reports of the . tunnel and determine a plan of action to address current safety concerns and ensure the tunnel continues to function safely as long as it is in use;

(iii) to review and comment upon the significance of Highway 99 as one of only two 'lifeline corridors' for earthquake emergency response in British Columbia, including its critical role in providing access to emergency staging areas in Metro and for mass evacuations; and

1 (iv) review options for tunnel decommissioning, including the option to leave the tunnel in place, which is a low cost and low environmental impact option.

and encouraging the Provincial government to look at the information for itself, to review the options, and to come to its own deCision regarding the George Massey Tunnel replacement.

B. THAT the Corporation of Delta staff be authorized to provide whatever assistance they can to facilitate this review process. Page 2 of 4

Provincial Review of George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project August 4, 2017

C. THAT a copy of this report be sent to: • The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities and Member of Parliament for Delta; • The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport; • All Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia; • All Board Members of Metro Vancouver; • The Delta, Richmond, South Surrey and White Rock, and BC Chambers of Commerce;

• The V~ncouver and Surrey Boards of Trade; • The Greater Vancouver Gateway Council; • The BC Trucking Association; • Port of Vancouver; and • Delta Farmers Institute

• PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council's approval to send a letter to the Premier of British Golumbia and the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure seeking a review of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project; to address immediate concerns with the condition of the existing tunnel; review and comment upon the significance' of the Highway 99 corridor as a 'lifeline corridor' for disaster response; and review tunnel decommissioning options.

• BACKGROUND:

At the July 10, 2017 Regular meeting, Delta Council endorsed a report entitled 'The Public Safety and Economic Imperative for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project'. Since then, there has been renewed media attention and public debate on the issue of the tunnel replacement, and it is apparent that there is still a great deal of misleading information being circulated, leaving many people confused or unsure about the project.

• DISCUSSION:

The new B.C. government was vocal during the election campaign about its intent to review the decision of the (now) previous government to build a bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel. Preliminary construction works along the Highway 99 corridor have been ongoing since late 2015 and are already well advanced, and the bridge construction contract is ready to be awarded. Page 3 of 4

Provincial Review of George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project August 4, 2017

Meetings with TrarisLink, Metro Vancouver and the Province: On July 27, 2017, Mayor Lois E. jackson and George V. Harvie, Chief Administrative Officer, attended a meeting of the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation (TransLink) to seek approval to make a presentation on the George Massey Tunnel Replacement project. The request was denied as the topic was considered to be outside of the jurisdiction of the Mayors' Council. On July 28 , 2017, the same delegation was approved to give the presentation to the Metro Vancouver Board as an information item.

On August 3, 2017, Mayor Lois E. Jackson, George V. Harvie, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Constable Neil Dubord met with the Honourable Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure to discuss the tunnel replacement project. The meeting was productive with the Minister committing to reviewing the file in detail prior to making any decisions. A copy of the briefing document is included as attachment 'A', and is summarized below:

Delay Bridge Contract Award Pending New Government Review: The Provincial government is being asked "to extend or otherwise delay, the contract award process for the new bridge so that the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure has an opportunity to review the technical information and project rationale before making an informed decision regarding the tunnel replacement project".

Address Immediate Tunnel Safety Concerns: Given that any replacement option will be at least five years away, the Province is also being asked to address safety concerns relating to the condition of the tunnel, specifically "to review recent Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure inspection reports of the tunnel and determine a plan of action to address current safety concerns and ensure the tunnel continues to function safely as long as it is in use". Issues identified include:

• Electrical system deficits - the original equipment has a 30 year design life and is still in use. The system shows signs of ageing, may fail without warning and spare parts are difficult or impossible to obtain. • Deteriorating concrete - netting has been installed to prevent spalling concrete from falling into traffic. • There needs to be a better warning system for over-height vehicles following numerous instances of damage to the fire sprinkler system from over-height trucks. • The ageing ventilation system causes extremely poor air quality inside the tunnel.

A 'Lifeline Corridor': In the BC Earthquake Immediate Response Plan (2015), Highway 99 is classified as both a \, 'critical' and 'key' route for disaster response, and is one of only two such 'lifeline corridors' in I British Columbia (the other being Highway 1). This is not the same as Disaster Response " Routes which are routes designated for emergency responders only. Lifeline corrid~rs provide critical access to staging areas, such as major airports, and are the first priority for initial reconnaissance after an event and for road response and restoration.

As a relatively recent designation, the significance of the Highway 99 corridor for emergency response in British Columbia may not be widely known or understood. Staff is therefore

'I Page 4 of 4

Provincial Review of George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project August 4, 2017 recommending that the Provincial government also be requested to review and comment upon this issue.

Tunnel Decommissioning: , The current proposal includes decommissioning and removing the tunnel once the new bridge is open. Delta would like the Provincial government to review this and look at other options, In particular, the option of leaving the tunnel in place (potentially allowing it to fill with water) should be more closely examined since it may offer a less costly and less environmentally-damaging option since there would be no in-river works. In addition, it would address concerns that, without the tunnel, the would be dredged deeper to accommodate larger ships,

Implications:

Financial Implications - there are no financial implications to Delta.

• CONCLUSION:

The George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project is a complex and technically-challenging project that has been studiep exhaustively throughout the three-year environmental assessment process. Given the renewed debate on the proposed bridge,the new Provincial government must have an opportunity to undertake its own review of the available information, make its own assessment of the alternative options, and come to its own conclusion regarding the project.

George V. Harvie Chief Administrative Officer

Department submission prepared by: Bernita Iversen, Manager of Corporate Policy F:\Bernita\Tunnel\2017\MinisterMeetingAug3\CR,docx

ATTACHMENT: A - GMTRP Briefing August 2017 Attachment A 1 of 8

______r ~~~- . - ' ~~-_/

The Corporation of Delta is urging the Provincial government to:

extend, or otherwise delay, the contract award process for the new bridge so that the Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure has an opportunity to review the technical information and project rationale before making an informed decision regarding the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project;

review recent Minis·try of Transportation and Infrastructure inspection reports of the tunnel and determine a plan of action to address current safety concerns and ensure the tunnel continues to function safely as long as it is in use;

review the significance of Highway 99 as one of only two 'lifeline corridors' for earthquake emergency response in British Columbia, including its critical role in providing access to emergency staging areas in Metro Vancouver and for mass evacuations; and

review options for tunnel decommissioning, including the option to leave the tunnel in place, which is a low cost and low environmental impact option.

The Corporation of Delta encourages the Provincial government to look at the information for itself; to review the· options, and to come to its own decision regarding the George Massey Tunnel replacement.

As one of the communities most directly impacted by this project, Delta will provide whatever assistance it can to facilitate this process. Attachment A 2 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Rep lacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 2

Lois E. Jackson Mayor, The Corporation of Delta

Lois E. Jackson, a long-time resident of North Delta, was first elected Mayor in 1999, prior to which she had served as a Councillor since 1973. In addition, Mayor Jackson served as Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors from 2006 to 2011.

As Mayor of one of B.C's key transportation hubs, her civic leadership includes collaborating with all levels of government on key infrastructure projects and building a safe, vibrant and sustainable community.

Key initiatives advocated by Mayor Jackson include implementation of Delta's Debt Reduction/Elimination Plan, a "Saving Our Industrial Lands" (SOIL) campaign to stimulate business investment and create new jobs, and spearheading the development of an innovative Climate Change Initiative to reduce Delta's environmental footprint and protect viable agricultural farmland in Delta.

Mayor Jackson has been widely recognized for her outstanding work, including a 25 - year public service award from the Union of BC Municipalities, the Queen Elizabeth" Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals for outstanding community service, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Clubs of Ladner and North Delta, and the Award of Excellence for Emergency Preparedness. Mayor Jackson is particularly proud of her vital role in bringing four levels of government together in 2004 to purchase Burns Bog and preserve it as an Ecological Conservancy Area.

Mayor Jackson currently serves on the following boards and committees:

• Delta Police Board (Chair) • Delta's Standing Committee on Finance (Chair) • Invest in Delta Mayor's Standing Committee (Chair) • Mayor's Standing Committee on Regional Transportation (Chair) • Metro Vancouver Board of Directors • Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Relations Committee • Metro Vancouver Climate Action Committee • Metro Vancouver Housing Committee • Metro Vancouver Mayors Committee • Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Committee • Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Committee • Metro Vancouver Representative (Alternate) on the Municipal Finance Authority • Metro Vancouver Representative on Flood Control and River Management Committee of the and Local Government Association • Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation • Fraser Health/Municipal Government Advisory Council Attachment A 3 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 3 George V. Harvie Chief Administrative Officer

George V. Harvie, a long-time re'sident of South Delta, was appointed Chief Administrative Officer for the Corporation of Delta in 2001. Before this appointment, Mr. Harvie was employed with the City of Burnaby where he served over 30 years in a number of positions including Deputy City Manager, Director of Human Resources and Manager of the Environmental Health Department. For hi s outstanding community service, Mr. Harvie has been recognized with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Mr. Harvie has a B.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University, an Administrative Management SpeCial Ce rtificate and an Environmental Health Diploma ofTechnology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He also studied Advanced Management at Dalhousie University.

As Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Harvie provides leadership to all departments to ensure they meet their responsibilities and that Council's directions and policies are carried out.

tII' ! Attachment A 4 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Rep lacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 4

Comparative analysis: Alternative crossing options have been exhaustively examined, compared and assessed, with 145 technical and scientific reports totaling 14,000 pages. The Provincial environmental assessment process involved three rounds of public consultation (3,000+ participants), 35 meetings with Metro Vancouver and TransLink, and 100+ meetings with Delta and Richmond.

The comparative assessment concludes that overall the bridge is the optimal solution, taking into account transportation needs, environmental impact, safety and cost (see table below):

(a) New bridge + Existing tunnel existing tunnel + new bridge Existing tunnel New bridge New tunnel I (b) New tunnel + on new I existing tunnel corridor Achievement of 20% 90% 80% 60% 40% project goals Risk profile II High Medium High Medium-high Medium-high

(a) 3,550 Cost $ millions1 590 3,500 4,300 5,800 (b) 4,050 Assessment Least cost; high Second lowest r Second highest Medium to high cost 1HI,he,"o,,; risk associated cost; risks cost; high risks I'nd "'k; m",ln,' high risks associated with associated with achievement of associated with I with geotechnical bridge tunnel project goals; tunnel . works adjacent construction construction significant property construction to tunnel; very and traffic adjacent to impacts; significant and retrofit of poor management; existing tunnel; environmental existing tunnel; achievement of high reasonable impact (for tunnel poor project goals achievement of achievement of option); poor seismic achievement of including poor project goals; project goals; performance of project goals; seismic minimal significant existing tunnel. significant performance. property property property impacts; impacts; impacts minimal significant including ALR; environmental environmental significant impacts. impacts. environmental impacts from tunnel construction; poor seismic performance of existing tunnel. 1 Costs include construction, engineering, project management, property, utilities, environmental, escalation, risks, contingencies and financing.

2 Scenario 4(a) is a new six lane bridge adjacent to the tunnel, and Scenario 4(b) is a new six lane immersed tube

1 tunnel adjacent to the tunnel. Attachment A 5 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 5

Getting people out of cars: The Tunnel already carries more transit passengers than any other non-rapid transit crossing of the Fraser River with more than 10,000 riders a day (1 bus every 3 minutes during rush hour).

Municipalities south of the Fraser River are growing at a rapid rate:

~ ~ H'JI 1111'11 ~'J I I • I . I ' ~ ~ Richmond 174,461 198,309 280,000 13.66 41.19 Delta 96,723 102,238 121,000 5.7 18.35 Surrey 394,976 517,887 770,000 31.12 48.68 White Rock 18J55 19,952 23,500 6.38 17.78 Langley 117,332 143,173 249,000 22 73:92 (Tshp+City) Average 39.98%

The tunnel replacement will provide a unique opportunity to create and expand t ransit infrastructure to this growing demographic.

The proposed bridge includes $500 million of new transit infrastructure, including:

• 50 km of new dedicated transit/HOV limes • Integrated transit stops • Space for future rapid transit • Dedicated transit on ramp • The bridge is LRT ready and capable

90,000 vehicles use the tunnel every day.

Lifeline corridor: Highway 99 is one of only two lifeline corridors classified as both a 'critical' and 'key' for earthquake emergency response in British Columbia1 (Highway 1 being the second). Separate from Disaster Response Routes, which are for emergency responders only, these lifeline corridors are first priority for transportation infrastructure response and restoration, and are essential for mass evacuations.

1 Be Earthquake Immediate Response Plan, 2015. Attachment A 6of8 Geo rg e Massey Tunnel Replace ment Project The Corporation of Delta I 6

Addressing immediate Tunnel safety concerns: Irrespective of any decision to replace the crossing, the current condition of the existing Tunnel needs to be reviewed with a view to addressing immediate safety concerns identified in recent Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure inspection reports, including:

• Electrical system deficits - the original equipment has a 30 year design life and is still in use. The entire electrical system shows signs of ageing, may fail without warning and spare parts are d"ifficult or impossible to obtain. • Deteriorating concrete - netting has been installed to prevent spalling concrete from falling into traffic. • Warning system for over-height vehicles - there have been numerous instances of damage to the fire sprinkler system from over-height trucks. • The out-dated ventilation system causes extremely poor air quality inside the tunnel. /

Water ingress inside the George Massey Tunnel on a dry day. . 1 Attachment A 7 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 7

Moving forward: The George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project started in 2012 and, following a lengthy environmental assessment process, the decision was made by the previous government to proceed with the construction of a new bridge. Highway construction works are well underway and the tender for the bridge structure is ready to be awarded. The tunnel replacement is expected to create nearly 9,000 jobs.

In order to avoid potential financial penalties, the Provincial government is ·urged to extend, or otherwise delay, the contract award process for the new bridge so that the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure has an opportunity to review the technical information and project rationale before making an informed decision regarding the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.

Given that any replacement option will be at least five years away, this will also be an opportunity for the Province to review recent safety audits of the tunnel and determine a plan of action to address current safety concerns and ensure the tunnel continues to function safely as long as it is in use.

The significance of the Highway 99 corridor as one of only two 'lifeline corridors' for earthquake emergency response in British Columbia is not well known publicly, and this could be an opportunity to assess and enhance its critical role in providing access to emergency staging areas in Metro Vancouver and for mass evacuations.

Finally, to address concerns regarding future plans to dredge the Fraser River to allow access for larger ships, this is an opportunity to review options for tunnel decommissioning, including the option to leave the tunnel in place, which is a lower cost, with minimal environmental impact option.

Action needed:

Immediate action is needed to: (i) alleviate tunnel traffic congestion; (ii) improve transit and alternative transportation options south of the Fraser River; and (iii) address seismic, emergency response and public safety concerns. Attachment A 8 of 8 George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project The Corporation of Delta I 8

Back row: Councillors Ian L. PatQn, Heather King, Robert Campbell and Bruce McDonald Front row: Councillor Sylvia Bishop, Mayor Lois E. Jackson, Councillor Jeannie Kanakos

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