The City of New Westminster is seeking input into proposed changes to truck route designations throughout the city.
Local residents, businesses and trucking industry officials are invited to attend an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. As part of the master transportation plan process that’s underway, the city has been reviewing the truck route networks and is proposing the removal of Royal Avenue, Ewen Avenue (east of Derwent Way), East Eighth Avenue and East Columbia Street (north of Brunette Avenue) as designated truck routes.
The city hired Halcrow/CH2M Hill to conduct a review of the truck routes in the city, focusing on East Eighth Avenue, East Columbia Street, Royal Avenue, Front Street and 10th Avenue.
In response to the consultant's findings, in September 2013 council directed staff to submit the consultant's report to TransLink and ask that East Eighth Avenue and East Columbia Street (north of Brunette Avenue) be removed from the truck route network. The city also notified TransLink of its objective to restrict truck traffic along Front Street and Royal Avenue corridors, and begin dialogue with stakeholders to identify the necessary parameters to achieve this goal.
The city aims to provide options for trucks traveling through the city by having 24-hour truck routes on Stewardson Way, Brunette Avenue, Front Street and McBride Boulevard.
“New Westminster businesses will not be affected by these changes, as trucks delivering to, or picking up from, local residences and businesses are still permitted to travel via the closest and most direct street route within the city,” stated a notice about the open house on the city’s website.
Basse Clement, an associate transportation planner at Halcrow, told council last September that 30 per cent of the trucks in New Westminster are light trucks such as cube vans, 20 per cent are trucks carrying goods as part of the Asia Pacific routes, 35 per cent have a regional focus, 10 per cent are inter-regional and five per cent are destined for the Cascades routes to the United States.
