I read with interest MLA Jordan Sturdy’s column in The Squamish Chief addressing a potential road to the Sunshine Coast. I agree that linking B.C. communities with a reliable and accessible transportation network is important. I do want to make sure that if we spend billions of dollars on creating new roads that we also include other infrastructure in that plan that would allow people to travel in a more pleasant and sustainable way.
The construction of a road to the Sunshine Coast would increase traffic on the Sea to Sky Highway. Most importantly to Squamish residents who commute to the city, it would also increase traffic on the North Shore bridges to an untenable level. The apt comparison, repeated by urban planners everywhere, is that building more roads to solve congestion is like loosening your belt to solve obesity. The time British Columbians spend in traffic are hours lost out of our lives.
If Mr. Sturdy’s government is seriously looking at expanding B.C.’s road network and building a fixed link to the Sunshine Coast, I would urge them to explore building fast, reliable, accessible passenger rail network in conjunction with any road building. Squamish could act as a regional transportation hub linking the Sea to Sky and the Sunshine Coast to the Lower Mainland. A key component to this plan would be to allow passengers to quickly and seamlessly travel over the Burrard Inlet and access public transportation hubs such as Pacific Station in Vancouver. In Squamish, I envision a train station equipped with parking facilities that would allow people from the Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky to leave their vehicles and travel to downtown Vancouver unencumbered by bridges and traffic.
Building fast, affordable rail service linking the Sea to Sky to the Lower Mainland is a grand vision and not one that would come cheaply or easily. However, if we are going to have the conversation about major expansion of our road networks, then we must include elements of sustainable transportation. Any road expansion in the region has to be paired with a public transportation system that allows British Columbians to avoid spending more hours of our lives sitting in traffic and ultimately increasing the quality of life for all in the region.
Colin Rombough
Squamish
