It’s a promising time for the estuary, the union of a mighty river and the Salish Sea that begot our Richmond islands.
Lately, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has announced that it’s now less intent on dredging the Fraser’s ship channel deeper. The move has been regarded by some as a port tactic.
(If the port doesn’t have to include the environmental impact of dredging in the area, it may have a better chance of getting its proposal for Terminal 2 at Roberts Bank approved. After that assessment, the port can then return to considering deeper dredging.)
Regardless, this is an opportunity to stop harm to the estuary.”
A citizens group and Ecojustice, along with Surrey and New Westminster, recently took the port to court. The aim is to prevent the barging of immense amounts of thermal coal through the estuary. While we wait for the decision, we’re spared the hazards of dirty coal.
Another dire threat from the port is their proposed new artificial island of fill in the mouth of the estuary, Roberts Bank Terminal 2. A federal review panel keeps asking tough questions — this month with a focus on marine life. I’m impressed.
We trust a new government will listen well and sift through the old one’s half-decade of Massey Replacement content to find what’s ideal for transportation, safety and the environment. They’ll likely revive the pre-Christy plan with extra insights.
The “Expanding the Tunnel” concept shows the essence of it, with the eco-excellent “Green Tube” providing two new lanes. That and the four-lane “Legacy Tube” would comprise the expanded Massey Tunnel in the Highway 99 corridor.
However, it could be best to place the Green Tube upriver, further east, as a new tunnel. In that case, it could connect with Richmond’s Nelson Road, which leads into Highway 91, with just a minimal effect on farmland.
Either way, the aim is to increase the transit capacity by two lanes. (The Green Tube enables that but may not be directly used for transit.) At least to begin with, Rapid Buses are the likely mode, as planned long ago.
The Green Tube is the urgent need. Done fast and well, it could initially divert traffic from the Legacy Tube to expedite the many overdue and near-due renovations. (Legacy lanes could close for the work, a pair at a time.)
Beyond the tunnel, the renewal would include the seismic retrofit of highway approaches, as well as better overpasses and interchanges.
I’ve addressed the obvious, but the new government may do better. Perhaps, for example, they’ll work with the port toward extended operating hours that help reduce the route-clogging port traffic at peak hours.
A fast-tracked B.C. environmental assessment would be great. The previous Massey Replacement assessment seemed to skirt the process, but I picture this one embracing it.
In short, we humans are getting in tune with the estuary. Hurray!
Jim Wright is a longtime Richmond activist
