WHEREAS economic development growth in the Northwest is resulting in a steady increase to road and rail traffic along the Highway 16 corridor which is creating safety concerns and negatively impacting communities; AND WHEREAS Highway 16 is the northern link to the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and upgrading key road transportation corridors to support trade is a priority in the Province of BCs Pacific Gateway Transportation Strategy 20122020: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM advocate for the provincial government to initiate an Asia-Pacific northern infrastructure strategy to address barriers to trade and transportation and impacts to northern communities along Highway 16, and that such a strategy include participation by northern stakeholder communities and industry.
Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure As a result of current and anticipated future economic development growth in the Northwest, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure appreciates that the steady increase to road and rail traffic along the Highway 16 corridor is creating community impact concerns. In response to these concerns the Ministry, through its Pacific Gateway Initiative, is in the process of developing plans to analyse the transportation trade network. This analysis will have a multi-modal focus on both road and rail along Highway 16. The work aligns with the priorities of the Ministrys BC on the Move A Ten year Transportation Plan, in that it will focus on: - Moving goods and people safely and reliably - Growing the economy - Connecting and strengthening communities - Maximizing collaboration and investment with partners, including First Nations, the federal government, regional and local governments and the private sector.