TransLink to develop Goods Movement Strategy for Vancouver region

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VANCOUVER, B.C. — Metro Vancouver’s regional transportation authority TransLink has announced it will develop a Goods Movement Strategy as part of its regional transportation strategy. Building on the work of several transportation and trade partners, including Metro Vancouver, Port Metro Vancouver, the Gateway Council, Transport Canada and others, the strategy will incorporate goods movement into the overall transportation plan for the region.

“Goods movement is strongly linked to the region’s goals for the health of the economy, the environment, and the region’s communities,” says Sany Zein, director of roads for TransLink. “These goals mirror TransLink’s overall vision to create a better place to live built on transportation excellence.”

“As we develop the regional transportation strategy, it is important that we better understand the role of Metro Vancouver’s goods movement sector in our local economy,” added Zein. “From this, we can better define TransLink’s role in supporting goods movement in the region.”

In 2012, TransLink commissioned a review of goods movement in Metro Vancouver and looked at best practices from around the world. The papers describe the role of goods movement in the region and the importance to long-term transportation plans. TransLink officials say initial stakeholder consultation also indicates that the goods movement industry benefits from transportation strategies that manage congestion and improve reliability, including investments in transit infrastructure and services.

Other findings of the studies include:

• Goods movement is important to the local economy. Statistics Canada reports that trade, transportation and warehousing accounts for 21% of the region’s jobs.

• Port Metro Vancouver ranks first in North America in foreign export shipments and second on the west coast of the Americas in total cargo volume. Vancouver’s port activity and volume is increasing, creating a greater demand for the local transportation network.

• On average, close to 10% of all weekday traffic on TransLink’s bridges is truck traffic.

• Stakeholders representing numerous public and private agencies involved in goods movement have informed TransLink that it has a pivotal role in integrating national and provincial goods movement initiatives with regional industrial land use plans and municipal road networks.

“There are tremendous opportunities to help provide consistency for provincial, regional and municipal collaboration,” Zein said. “As the region’s transportation authority, we are making it a priority and facilitating the conversation with stakeholders.”

The strategy further aims to develop policy recommendations to guide future decision-making on goods movement issues and present considerations and strategies for TransLink and other agencies to support the sector.

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  • The BC Trucking Association has called for this strategy for many years. Good to see that someone is finally listening.