Jonathan Cote: longterm solutions needed to address traffic

The Record asked readers what they think the top election issues are in the city. Top pick: Truck traffic. Reporter Theresa McManus asks the mayoral candidates what can, or cannot, be done about truck traffic in the city. Here’s what they said:

Jonathan Cote believes the City of New Westminster needs to think long-term to properly address the region’s truck traffic challenges.

Cote, who co-chaired the city’s master transportation plan committee, supports a bypass route through the city, as it would address the “significant demand” of vehicles wanting to get from Stewardson Way and the Queenborough Bridge to Highway 1.

“I think that New Westminster has to realize that we are part of a larger transportation system in the region that faces a number of complex issues,” he said. “Certainly we need to do our best to manage the significant amount of through traffic that New Westminster faces and still protect the livability of our neighbourhoods, but we have a role to play to make our arterial routes as efficient as possible.”

Although a bypass tunnel would be beyond the city’s financial means, Cote said it’s worthwhile to have plans on the books in case funds become available from provincial or federal governments.

“If you don’t have a plan in place and you haven’t had that regional discussion, you can’t make the case. Such a plan is not only something that benefits the City of New Westminster but would actually benefit the region’s transportation system,” he said. “If you don’t have that plan in place those grant funds or those transportation dollars will go to a project in another community that does have a plan in place.”

In addition to helping address traffic congestion for local residents, Cote is convinced the tunnel would help trucks move goods more efficiently.

“You’ve got 400,000 vehicles and a significant amount of commercial vehicles trying to essentially just get through the city. I think it not only benefits New Westminster having an efficient bypass corridor, but it could actually benefit the regional transportation system,” he said. “The through traffic that’s going through New Westminster isn’t happy about getting stuck in congestion in New Westminster, just as much as the residents aren’t either.”

Cote thinks the case can be made for a bypass route from the Queensborough Bridge and Marine Way to Highway 1.

“This is connecting a regional highway and transportation network, and we are trying to do it in a 150-year-old city with a built-out road network. Unless we actually look at something that is a little more beyond what the City of New Westminster can financially do with our road network, we are going to continue to have challenges,” he said. “The City of New Westminster can do the best it can to manage and efficiently deal with the traffic, but I think without larger regional support there will be a limit to what we an do.”

While the tunnel could be a way of addressing truck traffic in the city, it could be years before it becomes a reality. What happens in the meantime?

"In the short-term you deal with the perimeter routes. The city has to try and build as efficient a corridor as possible. I think the city's efforts that we have had to protect our local neighbourhoods, ensure the truck traffic that's going through our city is meeting all the safety regulations and city bylaws, I think is an important way to manage the situation we have," Cote said. "But really, the solutions that we find in the city are going to have to be long-term."

Long-term solutions, said Cote, will be connected to the replacement of the Pattullo Bridge and will include discussions about regional tolling.

"There is no doubt it's a very difficult issue. I can't say if I am elected mayor on Nov. 15 that we are going to eliminate congestion in the City of New Westminster," he said. "Having said that, I truly believe there are opportunities to improve our transportation system and work towards really protecting our local neighbourhoods and having a transportation system that works in New Westminster. It's not one big solution that will solve our issues. I believe it's a number of small, practical solutions, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, where we will actually see some improvements in our transportation system.”