New regional board questions bridge plan
Kent Spencer
Province
A new GVRD board will look at provincial government plans to twin the heavily travelled Port Mann Bridge. PROVINCE FILE PHOTO
The province’s plan to twin the Port Mann Bridge will come under scrutiny at the new GVRD, say board members.
Port Moody Mayor Joe Trasolini said 16 newcomers on the 32-member board, including Delta Mayor Lois Jackson as chairwoman, will set a new direction.
“Does twinning the Port Mann adhere to the Livable Region Strategic Plan?” asked Trasolini. “The GVRD needs to discuss it with the province.”
The board elected Jackson as its chairwoman and Vancouver Coun. Peter Ladner as vice-chairman.
“I have worked with Lois for several years. She seems to approach things in a reasonable manner,” said Langley City Coun. Gayle Martin.
Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt, whose city was accused by GVRD staff of contravening the regional plan, was defeated in a bid to be re-elected chairman.
The GVRD chairman earns about $40,000 annually. Directors receive $200 per meeting, $400 if meetings last more than four hours.
North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto said the “new leadership gives a shot in the arm to the Livable Region Strategy.
“The strategy was being followed, but not as well as it could have been. The Agricultural Land Reserve in the Fraser Valley was being challenged for conversion to residential subdivisions,” he said.
The province says the Port Mann must be twinned because hundreds of thousands of residents south of the Fraser River sit in traffic jams for hours each day. Commercial traffic also suffers.
Martin, who lives south of the Fraser, believes the twinning is a done deal. “It’s coming from the province. It appears it is going to happen.
“I’m not sure how much say the GVRD is going to have,” said Martin. “It may not fit in with the Livable Region Strategy, but something has to give to relieve the congestion.”
The next major item on the GVRD’s agenda will be to choose 12 TransLink directors, 10 of whom will likely be new. TransLink has a budget of about $800 million and major decisions on its plate, including funding for a light rapid transit line in the northeast sector.
© The Vancouver Province 2005