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Gateway critics say plan flawed
by TRUDY BEYAK - Abbotsford News •
Monday March 27, 2006 at 03:47 PM
A wider freeway will make traffic congestion worse in the long-term, attract more vehicles to the road and drive smog levels "sky high."
Gateway critics say plan flawed By TRUDY BEYAK
Abbotsford News
Mar 25 2006 A wider freeway will make traffic congestion worse in the long-term, attract more vehicles to the road and drive smog levels "sky high." That's one of the arguments raised as 20 community groups railed against the provincial government's $3 billion "Gateway" program during a press conference on Wednesday.
Conservation groups from Abbotsford to Delta are joining forces to oppose the proposed expansion project to widen Highway 1 from Vancouver to Langley, the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge and other transportation improvements. "Trying to solve congestion by expanding the highway is like loosening your belt to cure obesity," says a group called the Livable Region Coalition. Opponents to the mega-freeway include the Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition and the Burns Bog Conservation Society, among others. John Vissers, of Abbotsford, said building a bigger freeway will only lead to making the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley into "another Los Angeles or Toronto." He said this is not what the public wants for the future.
Vissers said the highway project will do nothing to curtail single occupancy vehicle traffic, but will, instead, encourage more irresponsible urban development. "Urban sprawl is a consequence of short-sighted planning. Cities from Los Angeles to Toronto have all experienced the transformation of their outlying areas," Vissers said. "They are not better places to live," he added.
"They have traded away character and quality of life for a quicker commute - that lasts a few short years before the problems return." Opponents say the provincial government hasn't held proper public consultation meetings, but have already determined the Gateway project is a "go." According to the coalition, the new highway serves the business interests of trucking firms and construction companies and one purpose is to link to an expanded port at Roberts Bank. Critics say that scientists have not done any environmental impact studies on how the larger freeway, and other new roads and increased traffic at the sea port at Roberts Bank could drive the death knell into the sensitive Burns Bog area and the ecologically significant Pacific flyway for migratory birds. Opponents said the new perimeter roads will divide communities, displace residents in heritage homes along the Fraser River and destroy prime farmland simply to build new lanes for the "monster" freeway. Conservation groups also say that increasing ship traffic at Roberts Bank may pose a danger to Orca whales. Increased air pollution is another key concern. The Gateway project doesn't serve the public good, because it will increase air pollution, says Donna Passmore, Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition. She said it's already been proven that smog episodes in the Fraser Valley cause public health problems and detracts from tourism. Lynn Perrin, of Abbotsford, said that hundreds of acres of prime agriculture land should not be sacrificed. Perrin, of the B.C. NDP Standing Committee on Agriculture, said farmland in B.C. is too important to this province to sacrifice for a mega-freeway. Instead, she suggested expansion of the railways for transporting goods and people. Perrin said she is disappointed that Abbotsford council seems to favour the Gateway program. The only complaint from council is that they want the government to extend their plans and build three lanes on each side of the freeway up to Whatcom Road, Perrin said.
"Would they be able to have the extra lanes without removing farmland?" asks Perrin. "Will this ultimately reduce congestion and pollution that is causing crop damage of over $20 million per year? I think it will only put more pressure on rezoning to industrial zoning and guess where that land will come from," she said.
Improved bus services should be encouraged, she said. People are now travelling from Abbotsford to Langley on a crowded Greyhound bus that has standing room only, on many days, she said. And, in Abbotsford more than 800 workers are forced to use their cars to get to work at the Abbotsford Airport, for example, because there isn't bus service, she said. Abbotsford doesn't have any funds coming from the province for public transportation, but it's all being funnelled into upgrades to the Mount Lehman Road interchange, she noted.
The Livable Region Coalition said local residents deserve better long-term transportation solutions. They are promoting: - Better land use, more compact communities.
- Improved transit, bus service and commuter rail.
- More efficient use of existing roads and traffic management.
- Better freight movement by rail. For more information on the Livable Regions Coalition, see: http://www.livableregion.ca.
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