March 12, 2016

More on … Massey Bridge

 
According to freedom of information access results the provincial government did a 180 on the Massey tunnel. In 2006 the tunnel allegedly was good for another 50 years, and now it has to be replaced, with a bridge. Yes commercial expansion along the wide Fraser River is relevant. It is utterly unclear why a twinning of the tunnel isn’t good enough, or perhaps an additional tunnel for a train connecting via Richmond to Cambie Canada Line, or perhaps a deeper wider tunnel instead of a new bridge.
Indeed the lack of consultation and discussion with MetroVan is odd. While much of the 2040 transportation plan needs revision in light of reality, certainly as tax payers, commuters and residents we’d expect more transparency and cooperation re massive $3B+ investments.
Back to the drawing board, or full steam ahead anyway, assuming of course a Liberal win in May 2017 ( not a given, of course ) ?

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Leave a Reply to Thomas BeyerCancel Reply

  1. Given that traffic volumes have declined slightly over the last decade, and we are facing a climate crisis, it is not clear why dramatically improved bus service through the existing tunnel is not enough. Adding a two lane tunnel next to the existing tunnel is also an option, but this should not be called ‘twinning’ as the existing tunnel is four lanes wide.

  2. What climate crisis are you facing Eric?
    Ten years ago you put forward the idea that a new Port Mann Bridge would not relieve congestion. That was now plainly and strikingly wrong. Are you putting forward the same idea again, with different reasoning this time, or is it just the same old song as before?

    1. “What climate crisis are you facing, Eric?”
      Most likely the same one we are all facing. Denying it exists doesn’t make it go away.

    2. I don’t drive much, but I see lots of slow moving vehicles on city streets, especially during “rush” hours. Where are all these cars coming from? Perhaps the new Port Mann bridge is making city streets more congested? If 10 lane Massey Bridge goes ahead, won’t it simply encourage more motor vehicles to fill up streets in Richmond, Vancouver and other municipalities? The Massey Tunnel can be free flowing today if it were simply tolled. Why spend $3.5 billion simply to add more motor vehicles to city streets? Wouldn’t road pricing combined with improved transit and cycling make more sense?

      1. Congestion at the Second Narrows Bridge and on the North Shore started increasing significantly when the Port Mann Bridge was complete, according to Ministry of Transportation data. It could be coincidence of course.

        1. Yet there was nothing of any consequence in the failed transit plan for the North Shore. It doesn’t even factor in the 2040 Plan maps. How could this growing area looking across at the city be ignored?

        2. Post
          Author

          Yes indeed it is amazing that we jam in tens of thousands of new condos on the north shore and do not upgrade road or transit infrastructure. Marine Drive between Dundarave in W-Van well past Lonsdale Quay in N-Van is very busy and needs a subway or other alternate people movers. More buses alone won’t do.
          Now we have a new Massey bridge coming in and soon, new commercial developments on south side of the Fraser River and the 2040 plan simply ignores it.
          Are we planning in a vacuum ? Are we planning for planning sake and then people and provincial government do what they want anyway ?

        3. The proposed North Shore transit improvements are not as significant as for Surrey or Vancouver, but population growth is also much more modest.
          It may just be coincidence that traffic across Second Narrows increased with the Port Mann completion. Apparently much of the traffic increase was not from North Shore residents but people from elsewhere coming to North Van to work. Which would make the issue more about housing affordability on the North Shore than road capacity or transit.

  3. Ration existing Metro bridge & tunnel capacity by giving HOV priority. This would reduce traffic volume. No need for new bridges, A few kilometers of road widening instead

  4. The 2040 plans are great plans. The only problem is that the whole planning process is being kiboshed by the provincial government. Not only are they vastly increasing road infrastructure (without requiring a plebiscite), but they are intent on destroying TransLink by not allowing the funding sources and tools that can actually make a difference and forcing a plebiscite on any new funding sources. Not only that, but they force TransLink to waste money on fare gates while trying to pretend that TransLink is an independent entity. Without MoTI committing to the 2040 plan and without TransLink being properly funded and without some form of comprehensive road pricing or even a simple short term fix like tolling all bridges, things will only continue to get worse. We don’t need a new plan – we simply need the province to be part of the existing plan.

  5. Try driving southbound during the morning rush hour. You can wait about 30 minutes on the freeway south of Westminster Highway to the tunnel since the southbound traffic only has one lane.
    I made that mistake once last year – and I would now divert over to the Alex Fraser Bridge to avoid the wait (even though it may be a significantly longer distance depending on destination).
    Note, that the news reports are, in effect, predicting a “carmaggedon” on Burrard Bridge when it is temporarily narrowed to one lane in each direction during construction – and Burrard Street is a not a major freeway.

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