Master Transportation Plan Open House

Posted on April 24, 2012 by lorenzi

Do you care about the future of the Pattullo Bridge

…and the impact on traffic in New Westminster?

TransLink has decided to tear down the historic Pattullo Bridge and replace it with a 6-lane bridge. By their own estimates, this will increase the number of cars crossing the bridge by 50%, and double the number of trucks! Yet TransLink has no plans to accommodate this traffic in New Westminster. So far, the only consultation they have had with New Westminster is to ask us which flavour or offramp we prefer.

Meanwhile, the City is working on a Master Transportation Plan, to better understand the goals and visions of the people of New Westminster. Through this plan it is hoped better-informed decisions can be made about our transportation future.

The City has made it clear to TransLink that it will only support a plan for the Pattullo that fits the City’s goals. The upcoming open houses are your chance to help form those goals…with TransLink moving fast on the bridge planning, this may be your only chance to have a real say on the project that will define traffic in New Westminster for the decades ahead.

City Staff and Officials will be on hand to answer your questions and address your concerns about the Pattullo or other transportation concerns in New West.

Your voice is needed at one of these important open houses!

Thursday, May 3, 2012.
2:00pm at Century House (620 8th Street, in Moody Park)
or
6:00pm at the Justice Institute (715 McBride Blvd, McBride and 8th Ave)
For more information check in on the
City’s Master Transportation Plan website: Master Transportation Plan Open House

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Pattullo Bridge Public Consultations

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin

The NWEP Transportation Group offers below some positions about the Pattullo Bridge that you may consider in your thinking.

You may be attending one of Translink’s first public consultations on the Pattullo Bridge:

February 21, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.		 Centennial Community Centre
65 East 6th Avenue, New Westminster
February 22, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.		 Surrey City Centre Library
10350 University Drive, Surrey
February 23, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.		 Inn at the Quay
900 Quayside Drive, New Westminster
February 27, 2012
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.		 Surrey City Centre Library
10350 University Drive, Surrey

Even more important is for you to participate in New Westminster’s ongoing consultations for revising the Transportation Master Plan.
http://www.newwestcity.ca/residents/residents_services/transportation/master_transportation_plan.php

Continue reading →

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Open Letter to Translink regarding the Pattullo Bridge Replacement

Posted on February 5, 2012 by admin

TransLink Board of Directors

Cc: New Westminster Mayor and Council
Dawn Black, MLA New Westminster

Dear Ms. Olewiler, and Members of the Board.

The NWEP are writing in the context of the current discussions around the future of the Pattullo Bridge. We understand that this transportation corridor is the responsibility of TransLink, and recognize the challenges faced by TransLink in making a decision to upgrade or replace the aging facility. However there two aspects of the current discussion that raise concern for the NWEP as the project proceeds. These concerns, if not addressed, may lead to serious consequences that impact the liveability of our community. At the same time, they speak to how TransLink may reach the laudable goals outlined in the Transport 2040 strategy document.

Continue reading →

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NWEP weighs in on city’s Master Transportation Plan

Posted on January 26, 2012 by lorenzi

The new President of the NWEP makes some excellent points in the NewsLeader article on the Master Transportation Plan. Whether you agree or not, you might want to drop by the Open house at City Hall tonight.

From the article:

One group that plans to participate every step of the way is the New Westminster Environmental Partners. When it outlined its priorities at its first board meeting of the year the transportation plan was at the top, ahead of trash, the threat of an incinerator being built in the city and recycling.

“This is far and away the most important,” said newly elected president Reena Meijer-Drees.

NWEP has long promoted a transportation hierarchy that starts with pedestrians at the top followed by cyclists, rapid transit, bus services, goods movement and, finally, motor vehicles. Meijer-Drees said it will be difficult ensuring that order isn’t flipped around.

“It’s always hard to put private motor vehicles last. It’s going against 30 years of transportation planning. It’s not an easy thing. The city says it, the city of Vancouver says it has this hierarchy, [but] it’s rather difficult to put in practice. We would love to see it happen,” said Meijer-Drees. “Personally, it’s my firm conviction we’re going to see some fairly major changes in how we’re going to set up our city in the next 30 years.”

Read the entire story here: First step in New Westminster’s Transportation Master Plan launches Thursday

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