Transportation - Report Card

Priorities

Oversee completion of Coast Meridian Overpass (CMO)

 
Lobby for Evergreen Line (rapid transit) to come to Port Coquitlam.

• Met with Provincial Transportation Minister, Kevin Falcon, on Feb. 12, 2009 to discuss importance of service extension to Port Coquitlam.
• “Ultimately, it’s the partnership between all levels of government that is responsible for making the Evergreen Line happen. The City of Port Coquitlam believes strongly in this project and will continue to work with all the partners to see those rails extend to Coquitlam – and eventually, to our own community.” G. Moore, City of Port Coquitlam Media Release, Feb. 2009 
• Reinforced Port Coquitlam’s position as a key stakeholder in this project by participating in the funding announcement event with Prime Minister Harper and Premier Campbell and attending the opening of the Evergreen Line Project Office in Coquitlam.
• Discussed the Evergreen Line with Provincial Transportation Minister Shirley Bond at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in fall 2009.
• Sent a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell on October 13, 2010.
• Here is a Blog Post from Greg on Why the Evergreen Line Needs to Come to Port Coquitlam Now.

Mitigate impact of Infrastructure Debt to ensure long-term stability and sustainability of municipal infrastructure, including roads and bridges, drainage and sewer systems, and civic facilities.

• Contacted Port Coquitlam’s Member of Parliament, the Hon. James Moore, Minister of Heritage and Official Languages regarding Port Coquitlam’s infrastructure needs and the need for federal government funding assistance.
• The City has submitted grant applications to Building Canada Fund Program to assist in funding capital projects, including the Broadway Street upgrade and the expansion of the Wilson Centre.
• The City applied for and received $7.6 million in provincial and federal infrastructure funding towards the $11.4 million Broadway Street Reconstruction Project.
• The City designates 1% of new tax revenue towards future infrastructure projects.

Ensure ongoing implementation and updates to the Port Coquitlam Master Transportation plan.

The City plans to update its Master Transportation Plan in 2011.

Work with Provincial Government on improvements to the Mary Hill Bypass and United Boulevard.

• Ongoing meetings have been held with the Minister of Transportation.
• The Provincial Government announced funding of Mary Hill Bypass improvements in March 2010.
• The City has improved turning access at Argue Street and Mary Hill Bypass after closing Argue in 2009 to prevent excessive commuter use. Creating a safer community for our residents.

Ensure implementation of existing Pedestrian and Bike Plan.

• The City has made a variety of improvements to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure since adopting the Master Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan in 2007. Numerous improvements are currently in progress or are being considered for 2010-2013. Improvements to date have included the introduction of marked bicycle lanes on the Coast Meridian Overpass, Dominion Avenue, and Broadway Street (in progress), the Wellington Street bicycle route, and a variety of pedestrian crossing improvements (e.g. crosswalks, sidewalk bulges, pedestrian signals). Click to read more.

Prevent Port Coquitlam neighbourhoods from being used as a thoroughfare for inter-municipal commuters.

• The City completed the Shaughnessy Prairie Area Transportation Plan, which will help ensure traffic is directed to arterial routes and not through the neighbourhood bounded by Shaughnessy Street, Prairie Avenue and Coast Meridian Road.
• The City installed a traffic signal at Wellington Street and Prairie Avenue in 2010 and plans to install a signal at Salisbury Avenue and Coast Meridian Road to reduce traffic speed and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
• The City closed the east end of Argue Street in 2009 to prevent commuters from using the street to bypass traffic on the Mary Hill Bypass.

Align the Fremont Connector to better serve local residents and the agricultural community.

• The City is planning to update its Master Transportation Plan in 2011
• Meetings between the City of Port Coquitlam and City of Coquitlam transportation committees have been taking place to ensure coordination during this project.
• A project consultant will be introduced in 2011.