Final report - Integrated Land Management Bureau

1. INTRODUCTION
Transportation Assessment of the Central & North Coast of BC
As part of their mandate to foster improved human wellbeing in First Nation and
non-native communities throughout the Central and North Coast, the Ecosystem
Based Management Working Group (EBM WG) has identified a sustainable and
diversified economy as one of the foundation stones for achieving individual and
community wellbeing. The economies of the Central and North Coast have often
struggled during the past decade, and there has been a significant population
outflow during this time. The resurgence of economic activity in Prince Rupert
signals a turning point and, it is hoped, renewed long term economic growth. A
reliable and efficient transportation system will be at the heart of this economic
renewal.
Despite great distances and unpredictable weather, the existing transportation
system on the Central and North Coast does a good job of moving both goods and
people. But the infrastructure is aging and has seen little investment in the past
few decades (this excludes the new ferry that will be starting on Route 10 in
2009). Most communities can cite at least one transportation-related issue –
infrequent ferries, small or aging terminals or docks, poor road conditions -- that
impedes economic or social development, or poses a problem for the future. And
while all communities share similar problems related to geographic isolation, there
is no overarching planning process or initiative to plan regional transportation and
advance the collective agenda of the Central and North Coast with the provincial
government.
The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the existing transportation
system of the Central and North Coast, identify and analyze the key issues, and
make recommendations about what the next steps should be in improving the
regional transportation system and readying it for future use. It is our hope that it
can be a useful tool in galvanizing Central and North Coast collaboration on
transportation matters, and in enlisting greater provincial support in this regard.
Extensive consultation was required for this assignment, and we are thankful to
many people and organizations for the time and information they generously
provided. Their names are provided in the List of Contacts at the end of this
report.
Chisholm Consulting 1