Canada-BC Infrastructure Partnership to Create Jobs and Support the Economy

• Backgrounder

West Vancouver, British Columbia, April 7, 2009 – Urban and rural communities across British Columbia will benefit from a $290-million investment in key infrastructure projects, thanks to a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C., announced Premier Gordon Campbell and Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

The infrastructure projects include provincial highway rehabilitation, public transit service improvements in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, projects in B.C.'s larger cities, as well as forest service roads. The Government of Canada is setting aside up to $116.6 million from the new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The B.C. Government is contributing $134.7 million. Other funding partners are contributing the remaining $38.8 million.

“Every job counts, and this investment partnership will help create more than 1,800 direct jobs, as well as further stimulate the economy through improved movement and traffic flow,” said Premier Campbell. “We are pleased to continue to deliver critical infrastructure projects across BC by working in close partnership with the Federal Government and our other funding partners.”

“The Government of Canada’s number one priority is to stimulate our economy and create jobs for Canadians. Our Government’s investment will improve the capacity of B.C.’s highways and roads, inject additional capital into our economy, and keep people working during these tough economic times,” said Minister Day. “Working together, we can build the infrastructure that will allow Canadians and the economy to thrive now and in the future.”

The largest project under this investment will benefit North Shore area transit users and motorists with enhancements to Marine Drive and the Capilano River “blue bridge.” The $40 million Marine Drive Transit Priority Project will result in reduced travel time and improved schedule reliability for the 95 North Shore buses (12 routes) that use Marine Drive and the Lions Gate Bridge during peak traffic periods.

This investment is part of an overall $14 billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan established a new $4 billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide funding to provincial, territorial and municipal construction-ready infrastructure projects. Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. This initiative is structured to move funds and get shovels in the ground quickly. Today’s announcement builds on the announcement on March 13, 2009 of $48 million in joint funding for 161 community infrastructure projects under the Towns For Tomorrow and the LocalMotion programs, with Canada’s contribution from the new Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

For more information, contact:

Chris Day
Press Secretary
Office of Canada’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure
613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148

Bridgitte Anderson
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 307-7177

Dave Crebo
Communications Director
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
250 387-7787

Backgrounder
CANADA-BC PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND INFRASTRUCTURE

The projects included under the $290-million Infrastructure Stimulus Fund investment are:

Metro Vancouver/ Fraser Valley:

• North/ West Vancouver: Transit accommodation including the replacement of the Old Capilano Bridge (“blue bridge”): $40 million
• North Vancouver: Rehabilitation of Iron Workers Memorial Bridge: $0.9 million
• Vancouver: Lakewood Dr. and Nanaimo St. bridge repair: $2 million
• Richmond: Southbound shoulder bus lane on Highway 99, Sea Island Way to Westminster Highway: $10.6 million
• Richmond: Northbound shoulder bus lane on Highway 99, Steveston Highway to Westminster Highway: $1.7 million
• Richmond: Grade separation of Nelson Road: $26.9 million
• Richmond: Extend Lansdowne Road to link #3 Road and Olympic Oval: $2 million
• Surrey: Construct cycling/ pedestrian overpass and bicycle paths: $10.7 million
• Surrey: Bridgeview Sewer System replacement: $8.5 million
• Abbotsford: Upgrade the McCallum Road Interchange: $25 million
• Coquitlam: Construct a new common force main: $1.2 million
• Hope: Replace two bridge structures on Highway 3 (Cedar Creek 1 and 2): $11.2 million

Vancouver Island:

• North Saanich: Construction of McTavish Road Interchange: $24 million
• Ucluelet: Resurfacing of Highway 4 in Kennedy Lake area: $2 million
• Port Alberni: Resurfacing of Highway 4 west of Riverbend Bridge: $3.1 million
• Sooke: Resurfacing of Highway 14 (Metchosin to Sooke): $6 million
• Sayward: Resurfacing of Highway 19 near Sayward: $4.1 million

The North:

• Prince George: New 4-lane bridge on Highway 97, replacing Stone Creek Bridge: $28 million
• Fort Nelson: Base strengthening and sealcoating of Highway 77 from Deasum Creek to the NWT border: $6 million

Interior:

• Quesnel: 4-laning of Highway 97 from Cody Road to Australian: $10 million
• 100 Mile House: 4-laning of Highway 97 at Stormy Road North: $3 million
• Lillooet: Gott Creek Bridge replacement: $3 million
• Falkland: Asphalt resurfacing on Highway 97: $3 million
• Enderby: Intersection improvements on Highway 97A: $5 million
• Kelowna: Construct new truck climbing lane on Highway 33 at Walker Hill: $5 million
• Kelowna: Construct a series of multi-use pathways and sidewalks: $11.5 million
• Kelowna: Upgrade Gordon Drive and replace Mission Creek Bridge: $15.6 million

Province-wide:

• Several communities: Forest service road upgrades: $20 million

The Government of Canada’s financial contribution is subject to the projects meeting all requirements under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the signing of an agreement with B.C.

Details of the Marine Drive Transit Priority project:

The existing two-lane “blue bridge” that crosses the Capilano River on Marine Drive in the westbound direction will be replaced with a modern, three-lane bridge. Transit queue jump lanes will be built on Marine Drive to facilitate priority access for buses travelling towards the southbound approaches of the Lions Gate Bridge. TransLink, the District of West Vancouver, and the District of North Vancouver will extend the transit-only lanes east of Capilano Road and west of Taylor Way. In addition, transit priority will be incorporated at the existing traffic lights at Taylor Way/ Marine Drive and Marine Drive /Capilano Road intersections. The new system will benefit the users of transit service between Vancouver and the North Shore and will reduce traffic congestion on Marine Drive at the north end of the Lions Gate Bridge.

The Marine Drive Transit Priority Project will create more than 500 jobs during construction. Construction will begin late this year, and is expected to be complete by March 2011. This project is a component of the $14-billion Provincial Transit Plan. The Provincial Transit Plan is a strategy to double transit ridership by increasing travel choice for people around the province, and reduce provincial transportation greenhouse gas emissions by 4.7 million tonnes cumulatively by 2020.

The Government of Canada’s financial contribution is subject to the projects meeting all requirements under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the signing of an agreement with B.C.