Mountain

Brunette Avenue Interchange Project Project Discussion Guide: NOV. 2016
Local Planning
Local transportation improvements and initiatives documented in the official community plans and transportation plans of the adjacent communities
were considered in the development of the options for the new interchange. Both municipalities have been involved at the technical level. The
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure understands that these plans are being updated and will actively accommodate revisions as is feasible.
Key elements and initiatives relevant to the interchange study area have been summarized below.
City of Coquitlam
The City of Coquitlam has been one of the fastest growing municipalities
in British Columbia over the last 20 years and is expected to add another
100,000 people by 2041. The recent and anticipated rapid growth rate
will place significant pressure on the transportation system in the years
ahead.
Any future improvements to the Brunette Interchange will need to
consider the goals and principles of the Citywide Official Community
Plan (OCP) in relation to the Maillardville Neighbourhood Plan (MNP)
such as supporting commercial, residential and employment living land
uses in the Maillardville Neighbourhood Centre. Key goals of the MNP
also include maintaining the Service Commercial, Industrial, and Civic
and Major Institutional land use designations for the Lougheed Brunette
Area and fostering a revitalized commercial main street along Brunette
Avenue that provides a variety of pedestrian friendly neighbourhoodserving
commercial services.
In addition, the City’s Strategic Transportation Plan (STP) presents a
vision for each of the primary modes of travel. The Brunette Avenue
Interchange Project is relevant to several goals of the STP including:
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A Vital Economy. Move people and goods efficiently and safely.
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Strategic Transportation Choices. Prioritize walking, cycling, transit,
and other sustainable modes of transportation.
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Meeting Changing Community Service and Infrastructure
Needs. Manage the transportation system efficiently as the community
evolves.
Specifically, the STP identifies as a transportation priority a new
pedestrian/cyclist crossing of Highway 1 to connect Maillardville with the
Braid Street Skytrain Station.
As the improvement options get more defined, the City of Coquitlam will
be expecting an evaluation on how each option addresses Maillardville
values and goals contained in the OCP and STP. As well, as part of this
process the City of Coquitlam expects that the Province addresses the
need for improved goods and transportation connectivity west of the
United Boulevard.
City of New Westminster
The City of New Westminster is also planning to grow, and expects
another 40,000 residents by the 2041. The City does not support any
options that require added capacity onto New Westminster roads,
including Brunette Avenue. The Master Transportation Plan and the
Official Community Plan have the following objective:
“Work towards the principle of no new added capacity in the Transportation System for
vehicles passing through New Westminster between other municipalities. In order to minimize
congestion, it is desirable to avoid attracting more regional traffic to New Westminster.”
The city’s Master Transportation Plan provides long-term direction that
will guide transportation policies, priorities and investments within
each element of the transportation network over the next 25 years and
includes Goal 6: Sustainable Transportation System: To manage the
impacts of the transportation system.
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Prioritize walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, and goods movement
over the single occupant vehicle
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Work with other agencies and neighbouring communities to provide
multi-modal connections between New Westminster’s neighbourhoods
and to neighbouring municipalities and regional destinations
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Work with other agencies to encourage alternative modes of goods
movement, including water and rail, and to develop alternative corridors
outside of the city for the movement of goods not destined to the city
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Manage the impacts of traffic moving through the city by limiting
motor vehicle capacity while supporting local access and mobility
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Support transportation demand management initiatives which
promote shifts to sustainable transportation and a reduction in single
occupancy vehicle trips
Regional Planning and Rail Efficiency
The Brunette Avenue Interchange provides critical connectivity between
Highway 1 and other key regional routes. Maintaining and improving
the efficiency of goods movement in the region is a key objective of
the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as well as TransLink.
Currently, the interchange is an impediment to the flow of goods and
truck traffic throughout the region. In addition to improving truck based
goods movement, examining ways to improve rail efficiency in the region
represents another key objective of these agencies. Closure of the atgrade
crossings at Braid Street, Spruce Street, and Cumberland Street will:
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Improve traffic safety
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Reduce idling of vehicles at level crossings, energy use, and
greenhouse gas emissions
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Reduce or eliminate the necessity for train whistling
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Enhance the efficiency and safety of rail operations
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Accommodate the anticipated growth in trade-related traffic
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Increase national trade competitiveness by increasing goods
movement along the corridor
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Support the Pacific Gateway Project
TransLink
TransLink is responsible for planning, financing and managing
transportation modes and services in the Metro Vancouver region,
including the Major Road Network (MRN), truck routes, and transit service.
As the regional transportation authority, TransLink is working with the
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure design options for
the improved Brunette Avenue Interchange address regional transit and
transportation needs.
TransLink also owns and maintains several bridges in the region, including
the Pattullo Bridge, Knight Street Bridge, Golden Ears Bridge, Westham
Island Bridge, and Canada Line bicycle and pedestrian bridge.
TransLink’s Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS) Strategic Framework,
adopted in August 2013, sets out the vision, goals, principles, strategies
and key initiatives to accommodate one million more people expected to
live in the region by 2045, along with the resulting growth in demand on
the transportation system. The RTS brings together strategies on investing
in system expansion, managing demand, and coordinating land use in
order to ensure that transportation decisions are affordable and that
communities are livable with prosperous businesses, safe streets, clean air
and thriving natural environments.
The two main targets of the RTS are:
1. Reduce average driving distances by 33%.
2. Make half our trips by walking, cycling and transit.
These targets are set to help the region reach the shared vision as
one of the best places in the world to live because our transportation
needs are met in a way that simultaneously improves the health of our
communities, economy, and environment.
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