Policy & Positions Manual
Provincial Issues - Transportation and Infrastructure
Kootenay Columbia North South Connector (2010)
British Columbia is reliant on transportation infrastructure for economic sustainability, growth and diversification. Quality transportation infrastructure can act as a catalyst for economic health by providing inter-regional access to economic opportunities throughout the province. In addition to inter-provincial access, it is important to recognize the need for effective North American transportation access to capitalize on the close economic ties to the USA in support of economic sustainability and expansion opportunity.
Efforts are being made south of the border to recognize the importance of infrastructure work on HWY 395; the Canada - US North South Corridor. The U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, and Washington State Governor recently announced that the North Spokane Corridor project will receive $35 million under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The $1.5 billion TIGER program funds transportation projects to boost local economies and improve transportation infrastructure that is vital to regional job growth and economic competitiveness. The $35 million investment includes the northern development of HWY 395.
The Provincial Government clearly recognizes the importance of improved transportation infrastructure. The Provincial Transportation Service Plan 2009/10, states one of its goals to, “expand and strengthen the roads, rails, ferries, bridges, ports and airports that tie our communities together and link us to the world.” During this period we are investing over $2 billion in the future of British Columbia.
In order to increase opportunity for sustainable growth and diversification of regional economies, including tourism, resource sectors and manufacturing, there must be support with infrastructure investment for a north-south corridor.
With the completion of a highly successful 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Provinces’ commitment to tourism growth, as per the Tourism Action Plan February 2007, Government has committed to grow the tourism industry from “good” to “great”, and double tourism revenues by 2015. The North South Connector will be an important part of achieving this goal by acting as a new gateway for tourism in BC.
Studies have shown that low elevation routes reduce carbon emissions by more than 30% as compared to high elevation routes. This in turn makes this low elevation corridor an alternative to reduce BC and Washington’s carbon footprint. A low-elevation route between the Canada-US border and the Trans-Canada highway to a southern route HWY 395 connector would provide an important alternate route that would allow greater access to new economic markets within BC and enables shipping trucks to avoid high traffic volume and bottlenecked highways; reduce idling time, fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
The Chamber believes this resolution will reduce the carbon foot print in BC by providing a direct route to economic markets. This in turn would improve economic strength by increasing global competitiveness through direct access for shipping of goods. Through the development of an additional north/south transportation corridor there will be elimination of highway and border bottlenecks, the North South Connector would be a direct route to support the massive Prince Rupert terminal expansion.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
That the Provincial Government:
- develop a comprehensive transportation plan that will align with the USA North Spokane HWY 395 infrastructure investment; and
- work in collaboration with economic development offices and local government in the North South Corridor area to explore economic development opportunities that would be created through the completion of the North South Corridor.
