VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Greater Vancouver Area should become a more transportation-friendly region thanks to a $350,000 contribution to the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council (GVGC).

The money was granted under the federal-provincial Western Economic Partnership Agreement for long-range planning to improve commercial transportation in the region.

The project will examine commercial cargo transportation in the area, as well as passenger transportation that could clear up capacity on the region’s highways.

“Commercial transportation is critical to our prosperity as a port and Canada’s economic gateway to the Pacific Rim,” says Stephen Owen, secretary of state with Western Economic Diversification. “This money will assist in long-range planning that will allow us to get the most from our transportation networks.”

Owen adds “The objective is to move goods and people into, around and out of Vancouver cheaper, faster and better than we are doing now.”

Under the study, there will be economic research and financial analysis of a major commercial transportation system. Also examined will be the development of a framework for public and private investment and the movement of freight by rail and marine.

Competition Minister, Rick Thorpe, says “The Greater Vancouver Gateway is one of the largest transportation complexes on North America’s West Coast for domestic and international cargo and passengers. It moves 100 million tonnes of cargothrough the region every year.”

Thorpe adds “This study will assess an efficient, environmentally sustainable system of road, rail and waterborne routes essential for the region’s trade to be globally competitive.”

The Vancouver Port Authority, B.C. Ferries, Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway will all take part in the study.