 |
|
VICTORIA – Today the Province introduced Bill 14, the Transportation Investment (Port Mann
Twinning) Amendment Act, to provide for the establishment of a
commercial, self-sustaining crown corporation to deliver the Port Mann/Highway
1 Project, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon announced.
“This is good news and a major step towards
completing a key element of B.C.’s $3-billion Gateway Program,” said Falcon.
“This legislation is an opportunity for all members of the house to demonstrate
support for this important project, a project that will greatly benefit the
Lower Mainland.”
The bill provides for the establishment of the
Transportation Investment Corporation – a crown corporation that will enter
into an agreement with a private sector partner to design, construct, finance
and operate the project.
The legislation ensures maximum accountability and
transparency by ensuring oversight of the project by an independent board of
directors of up to seven people, appointed by the Minister of Transportation.
The project, which will be paid for by tolls, will reduce congestion, manage traffic demand over time, and allow for buses to travel over the Fraser River for the first time in over two decades.
The Port Mann/Highway 1 Project includes widening the highway, construction of a new Port Mann Bridge, upgrading interchanges and improving access and safety from McGill Street in Vancouver to 216th Street in Langley, a distance of approximately 37 km. Construction is expected to be complete in 2013.
-30-
|
contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Transportation 250 387-7787 250 889-1825 |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
