BC’s roads and highways are the trucking industry’s workplace, but investments in infrastructure benefit all British Columbians. BCTA promotes and supports strategic investments in roads, highways and bridges throughout the province, as well as the maintenance that keeps them safe and operational. In addition to specific recommendations, BCTA regularly communicates with government officials, maintenance contractors and others about things like pavement markings and brake check and rest stop locations and services.
Achievements
2011
Conveyed BCTA’s policies on rest stops in BC as well as an updated list of infrastructure investment priorities approved by the Board of Directors to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) for submission to Transport Canada.
Emphasized the importance of providing on-street parking for trucks to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and its member communities so that drivers can load and unload cargo as well as run necessary errands. Municipalities must also consider that plans for new developments need to include adequate access for delivery and waste management trucks.
Supported the Corporation of Delta’s view that the truck pull out at Highway 91 north of Highway 10 should include rest stop facilities.
Provided recommendations to Port Metro Vancouver for traffic management and design plans for North Vancouver’s Low Level Road Improvement Project, which was intended to address community safety and traffic congestion challenges in the area, while enhancing rail and port operations. Although North Vancouver Council withheld support from the project as proposed, it did approve construction of a new rail overpass in the area of the Neptune/Cargill terminal.
Urged the provincial government to take over the North Fraser Perimeter Road (NFPR) project, in order to guarantee that stakeholders do not shelve the 20-year initiative because of opposition to one section: the United Boulevard Extension project in New Westminster. TransLink reluctantly abandoned further consultation on this portion of the project because it was not able to gain consensus from residents.
Following unacceptable delays caused by construction of a second primary inspection booth at the Huntingdon border crossing, convinced the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to limit the work to scheduled weekends and to extend operating hours for the commercial primary inspection booth until crews finish the new booth in July 2011.
Advocated interchanges for the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) in Delta and Highway 1/192 Street in Surrey. BCTA opposed plans for less-efficient intersections rather than interchanges at Sunbury and Tilbury for the SFPR project, as well as the delay in construction of a planned interchange at Highway 1/192 Street, indicating that this interchange should be ready in time for the opening of the Port Mann Bridge in 2013.
2010
Recommended that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) consider safety enhancements at the Vedder Canal Bridge after several serious crashes, including three fatalities. MoTI installed high concrete barriers on both sides of the twinned structure, improved road markings, and extended roadside barriers 150 metres on the approaches.
- Participated in a Safety Task Force, including representatives from MoTI, the RCMP, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), WorkSafeBC and the Trucking Safety Council of BC, that was formed to consider improvements to Highway 5A as a result of a number of commercial vehicle crashes early in 2010. The Task Force successfully influenced the implementation of the following engineering strategies for the highway's most hazardous sections:
- Upgrades to warning signs for five priority curves in the highway from Stump Lake northwards
- Placement of a portable speed reader board northbound at both Stump Lake and Trapp Lake
- Installation of a traffic counters at strategic locations, with ongoing data collection
- Installation of 200 high-visibility delineators at the curves
- Installation of 8 truck-tipping signs and 2 gateway entrance signs
- Installation of an oversized CAUTION WINDING ROAD NEXT XXX KM and a davit-mounted overhead fixed speed reader board northbound at Stump Lake
- Application of special pavement markings at Empire curve
- Installation of centre line rumble strips throughout the corridor, excluding passing and residential zones
Recommended that the Port Mann/Highway 1 project contractor to keep two lanes rather than one open westbound between the 152 Street entrance and the bridge deck over the next year of construction.
Ongoing participation in the annual winter-preparedness campaign for all drivers on BC’s roads and highways, supported by numerous stakeholders. This year’s campaign slogan continued to encourage drivers to slow down and “Shift into Winter.”
2009
Worked directly or through various partners to promote and defend infrastructure initiatives in the Lower Mainland, such as the Golden Ears and Pitt River bridges (completed in 2009), the SFPR project, the Port Mann Bridge/Highway 1 project, and the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor, in the face of strong opposition from anti-road coalitions and some local and provincial politicians. These projects involve over $4 billion in federal, provincial and local funding and will help to address Lower Mainland congestion.
Supported the four-laning of portions of the Okanagan Valley Corridor, Phase 3 of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project, and the Cariboo Connector Program from Cache Creek to Prince George, including a state-of-the-art weigh scale on Highway 97 south of Prince George. Weigh-in-motion and identification technology allow registered trucks to bypass the scale at highway speeds, improving efficiency for carriers.
In February 2009, the government announced concessions for truck traffic, such as reduced tolls in off-peak periods, and others on the new Port Mann Bridge once it is completed in 2013.
Ongoing participation in the Port Mann/Highway 1 Traffic Advisory Committee to minimize the impact of construction activities on road users. BCTA influenced three key decisions: halting overnight construction at 5 am instead of 6 am, ensuring that temporary lanes are wide enough for loads transported under term oversize permits, and requiring more tow trucks and enforcement staff to monitor and remove stalled vehicles and other impediments from the highway.
Reminded TransLink, the Lower Mainland’s transportation authority, and MoTI of the need to allow overdimensional and overweight loads on the new Golden Ears Bridge. While overwidth and overheight loads to 4.47m are now allowed, BCTA continues to apply pressure on TransLink to allow overweight loads on the bridge.
Participated in the winter-preparedness campaign by making “Shift into Winter” graphics and tip sheets available on www.bctrucking.com and to members. Encouraged members via the Bulletin to report hazardous conditions and incidents to area maintenance contractors.
2008
Influenced the government and other organizations to improve and enlarge chain-up locations on the Coquihalla highway, erect new and better signage for other chain-up locations on major highways in BC, and provide more accurate information about road closures on DriveBC.
Jointly developed communications plans about driving in winter conditions for the general public with the participation of stakeholders that formed a communications team for this purpose in 2007 (see below). The team established annual mechanisms for the distribution of brochures and other materials for non-commercial drivers.
2007
Recommended changes to the TransLink governance structure, which were formally legislated in the new South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act in November 2007 to create a professional board of directors, which came into being early in 2008.
Supported the Gateway Project through editorials and presentations, emphasizing that reducing congestion would also decrease vehicle emissions from forced idling. We continue to stress that more roads equal more movement and not more traffic.
Outside the Lower Mainland, BCTA continued to actively support important highway improvement projects such as the widening of the Cariboo Connector and the new William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna.
In response to member concerns about unsafe winter driving conditions, BCTA committed to raising the profile of winter highway maintenance during 2007 in company with numerous stakeholders, including the (then) Ministry of Transportation (MoT), the RCMP, BC Automobile Association (BCAA), the BC Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, WorkSafeBC, ICBC and highway maintenance companies. We developed three inter-related plans to:
raise awareness about the necessity of winter driving preparedness, including a campaign to increase usage of MoT’s DriveBC website.
encourage better coordination among first responders at a crash site.
establish more and better-situated chain-up areas on the Coquihalla Highway, including improved signage
BCTA’s work on winter maintenance issues led to a variety of articles and media coverage on the importance of preparedness for non-truck drivers, who are often responsible for incidents that result in road closures.
Relayed the concerns of motor coach members about inappropriate detours for Canada Line construction to the City of Vancouver, resulting in a route downtown via Broadway and the Burrard Bridge instead of Main Street.