On Tuesday, local farmers protested outside Richmond's one and only open house on the environmental assessment of the planned 10-lane, $3.5 billlion replacement bridge for the George Massey Tunnel.
Prior to the protest, at a meeting on Monday night, a majority of Richmond city councillors restated their preference for a new or improved tunnel in a vote.
Councillors Alexa Loo and Ken Johnston said they supported the proposed 10-lane bridge. Meanwhile Coun. Chak Au said he wanted more information to compare the two options and voted with Loo and Johnston.
However, Richmond city council unanimously approved a set of demands if the proposed bridge is built despite its overall opposition.
One of the demands the City of Richmond is making is improved traffic flow along the Oak Street Bridge. However, achieving this likely means having to get support from the City of Vancouver, whose council has generally taken measures to restrict the flow of traffic into its city, rather than ease it.
Ergo, Richmond's council passed a motion asking Vancouver to address congestion at the intersection of 70th Avenue and Oak Street, which is thought to be a major contributor to the bridge's northbound bottleneck.
"We need to be working together," said Coun. Linda McPhail.
Coun. Bill McNulty expressed skepticism that Vancouver would get on board with such a plan.
"If I'm a councillor in Vancouver, 'sorry Richmond'" quipped McNulty.
Richmond councillors have taken issue with the limited information provided to the city and council, to date.
"We do not have specific information that would allow us to form any reasonable decision on this," said Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
Brodie and other councillors have expressed skepticism that the bridge is only intended to alleviate traffic congestion. It's been suggested the Ministry of Transportation and Port Metro Vancouver have ulterior motives for the bridge related to opening the Fraser River up to deep sea ships (by way of dredging the river deeper, which cannot be done with the existing tunnel).
Coun. Derek Dang suggested "someone from the Ministry of Transportation is sitting on the Grassy Knoll writing this (Project Definition) report."
To which Johnston replied: "I don't believe in conspiracy theories."
Johnston suggested anyone who does should be watching X-Files.
The former BC Liberal MLA, and president of a delivery company, said, "maybe they're interested in (a bridge) because it has nothing to do with ship traffic but that it has to do with getting the trucks through."
Johnston also questioned environmental concerns granted the bridge will alleviate idling at the tunnel (for 20 years).
Coun. Harold Steves said there is no plan to alleviate northbound idling at the Oak Street Bridge.
He said the bridge is an attempt to "Richmondize" Delta by virtue of opening up the South Fraser region to development. He added that there would be little incentive to add a light rail system within 20 years as it would undermine tolling revenue.
Loo espoused the virtues of the new bridge being extolled by the provincial government, such as the economic benefits of easing traffic congestion.
"We need a big bridge," said Loo.
She said the toll would be less than $10, the current minimum wage, and, on average, a driver will save over an hour each day by using the bridge.
"Time is money. …At the end of the day you're further ahead," said Loo.
Steves said the option to build a bridge only came to fruition over the last few years, after the port began lobbying the province for it.
One issue at large is earthquake readiness.
Steves contended the existing tunnel could be retrofitted for seismic upgrades.
But Loo said a bridge makes more sense in an emergency. Also, she said seismic work on the existing tunnel (or building a new one) would disturb fish habitat.
Meanwhile, Coun. Carol Day said a planned three-level interchange at Steveston Highway would be a "daunting structure" for nearby residents.
Dang said he regrets approving residential developments along the bridge's corridor, now knowing the scope of the project.
At the council meeting, Alex Nixon of the Richmond Poverty Response Committee said his organization opposed a bridge toll that would disproportionately impact low-income Richmondites.
John Terborg, a water systems engineer, told council the bridge project appeared to lack a connection between regional transportation planning and land-use planning.
Local farmer Kimmi Hendess said she was skeptical as to how the bridge would, as stated by provincial planners, result in a net gain of farmland.
"The devil is in the detail as to what will be lost and what will be gained," said Brodie.
Council also agreed to send a letter, however symbolic it may be, to the Canadian government to express its opposition to the project.
City of Richmond's demands if a bridge must be built:
-Zero or positive impact on farmland
-Region-wide mobility pricing (a fair toll)
-Alleviate Oak Street Bridge congestion
-Improve local road network at no cost to city
-Ensure bridge is compatible with regional growth strategy
-Pedestrian and cycling access to overpasses/interchanges
-Iconic bridge design
-Ensure new transit stops supplied by Translink bus routes
GMT Project Definition Report Dec 2015
