Massey Tunnel replacement bridge to encourage urban sprawl, say critics

Critics of the province's plan to replace the MasseyTunnel with a 10-lane bridge say it goes against the region's halfcentury-old fight against urban sprawl.

• Ten things you need to know about the new bridge

Politicians in the Lower Mainlandhave voiced their concerns about the $3.5 billion bridge, after the B.C. government announced the project Wednesday, citing tolls and traffic congestion.Urban planners are now joining the chorus of criticism.

"Ever since we turned our back to freeways in the late 1960s, we're not trying to build our way out of congestion," said Ken Cameron, former manager of policy and planning at Metro Vancouver.

"Putting in a big new facility like this runs directly counter to all of those objectives [of] the city of Vancouver, the city of Richmond and the other municipalities."

'Sooner or later you're right back where you started from'

Transportation minister Todd Stone said Wednesday the new bridge will cut more than one million hours of idling time from vehicles. But Cameron says projects that encourage car-use, like the Massey Tunnel replacement bridge,don't help congestion in the long-run.

"Inevitably, history tells us, over time new roads go up , with new traffic, and more congestion, and sooner or later you're right back where you started from."

Looking at the region's transportation system as a whole is key to reducing congestion, said Cameron. That means investing in public transportation as well as road infrastructure.

"It really is something that needs to be look at in its totality. The whole road system in the region and its transit system need to be looked at and planned for together rather than looking at particular facilities and improving one at a time."

Medieval technology

Cameron hasone more criticism of the province's bridge plan:

"Tolling is literally a medieval technology," he said.

Toll prices have not been set but the final price will depend on a number of factors, including funding from the federal government, Port Metro Vancouver, and the final construction contracts, all of which have yet to be negotiated.

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