In July, city council was requested by TransLink to appoint a representative to the senior advisory committee of its Southwest Area Transport Plan (SWATP).
It has been 15 years since the original Richmond Area Transit Plan was completed.
The new Southwest Area Transport Plan will include Richmond, South Delta (Ladner and Tsawwassen), and Tsawwassen First Nation and covers the entire transportation network within the identified sub-area of the region.
The review will identify the long-term vision, priorities, challenges, and opportunities in transit, walking, cycling, driving, goods movement, and transportation demand management.
As the member of council appointed to the senior advisory committee for this new plan, I would very much like to hear your input and comments regarding your concerns with respect to transportation.
In Richmond, the city’s long-term transportation vision and priorities are included in the City Centre Area Plan, which was adopted in 2009, and the Official Community Plan, which was updated and adopted in 2012. Each will be used to help guide the expanded Southwest area planning process.
Some of the key improvements envisioned in the city’s plans are:
Transit service: Canada Line service and station capacity improvements, improved bus service between Richmond’s city centre and Metrotown in Burnaby, on Sea Island (including Burkeville) and to Fraser Port, more local bus routes that do not necessarily travel through the city centre, and new bus service to employment areas lacking transit services including Mitchell Island.
Transit facilities: off-street bus exchanges at Richmond-Brighouse Station and in Steveston to improve connectivity and reduce empty bus circulation/layovers on streets.
Road-goods movement: new additions to the major road network (e.g., Nelson Road, Blundell Road east of No. 7 Road, River Parkway, No. 6 Road north of Westminster Hwy, and surrounding roadways near the new Brighouse bus loop) to secure capital and maintenance funding.
Cycling: expansion of major street and local connecting paths for cycling.
Walking-rolling: expansion of network of neighbourhood links on local roads and the closure of gaps in sidewalks on arterial roads.
Transportation demand management: work with TravelSmart on school- and employer-based activities to improve transportation choices and reduce vehicle trips.
For more information on Translink’s Area Plans, visit translink.ca/en/Plans-and-Projects/Area-Transit-Plans.aspx
Again, please send me your comments and opinions, during the next few weeks either by letter to the City of Richmond, Attention Chak Au, 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond BC, V6Y 2C1 or you can also reach me via email at: [email protected].
Chak Au is a Richmond city councillor
