Replacing Pattullo Bridge a priority under NDP government: Horgan
B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan boosted his transit promises Friday by saying his government would immediately fund a replacement for the aging Pattullo Bridge.
The funding, which is part of the NDP’s proposed $10 billion capital plan, would mean the bridge is replaced before the second phase of the TransLink Mayors’ Council transit plan, said Horgan.
“The B.C. government has not committed to helping the mayors in this regard, and I will,” he said.
“I’m committed to making sure we end the chaos in traffic in the region by replacing the Pattullo Bridge. The mayors know it needs to get done, Christy Clark has not been at the table. We’re going to make sure that happens, that mayors understand they have a partner when it comes to replacing this critical piece of infrastructure in the Lower Mainland.”
The move means an NDP government would fund 40 per cent of a new Pattullo Bridge. A 2014 estimate pegged a replacement bridge between New Westminster and Surrey at more than $1 billion, with half the cost to be covered by tolls. The B.C. Liberal government has, in the past, promised one-third funding for the project but has not attached specific dollar figures.
The Mayor’s Council says immediate action on the Pattullo replacement is needed, so that procurement could begin this fall to start a five- to six-year construction schedule. That would coincide roughly when engineers say the old bridge has reached the end of its lifespan.
“It’s positive news that we’re talking about the Pattullo Bridge,” said New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote, who chairs the Mayors’ Council subcommittee on funding strategy.
“It has kind of become the forgotten piece of transportation infrastructure in Metro Vancouver and the reality is it’s reached the end of its life.”
Further complicating the Pattullo project is that mayors had originally intended to recover half the cost with tolls. But the NDP has promised to scrap Metro Vancouver bridge tolls and the Liberals have promised to cap them at $500 a year per driver. Both promises throw into question a key source of bridge financing, said Cote.
“All of that funding for the new bridge should be made up by whomever forms the next provincial government,” said Cote. “If that’s the case, we’re close to moving forward to starting the procurement stage. If that’s not the case, that could be a huge problem for us.”
Horgan also reiterated his promise of 40 per cent provincial funding for the TransLink Mayor’s Council’s 10-year transit plan, which includes more B-line buses, Seabuses, and major projects like the Broadway subway line and Surrey light rail.
The NDP promised the 40 per cent funding several months ago, which was more than the 33 per cent provincial funding the B.C. Liberals had promised for the Broadway and Surrey transit projects.
The Liberals have since bumped up their share to 40 per cent. The federal government has promised $2.2 billion. It’s still unclear how the municipal governments and mayors would fund their local share of the rapid transit expansions.
However, the Liberals have charged forward on the Massey Bridge tunnel replacement project, which the mayors say is a lesser priority, rather than Pattullo.
“We’re focusing on the Pattullo Bridge because the B.C. Liberals have failed to do that,” said Horgan.