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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012
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Showing its age: New Westminster won’t be engaging in TransLink’s public process regarding a replacement for the aging Pattullo Bridge. The city will get residents’ input during the master transportation plan process.
File photo/THE RECORD
City opts out of TransLink’s Pattullo process BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
The City of New Westminster will be exploring the replacement of the Pattullo Bridge within its own master transportation plan rather than taking part in TransLink’s planning process. On Monday, council directed staff to advise TransLink that it wouldn’t be engaging in TransLink’s public process about the Pattullo Bridge at this time, as the city is including a public consultation process about all potential options as part of its master transportation plan. “The bridge to New Westminster is probably one of the most important transportation nodes we will have. It will prob-
ably be there for 100 years,” said Mayor Wayne Wright. “It takes more than ‘slap, dab, let’s put it here.’” Wright said the city firmly believes that the Pattullo Bridge needs to be considered within the context of the city’s overall transportation network and it’s not ready to take a stance on the alignment at this time. “We are not going into this blind,” he said. “We are going in so we have the proper information from our stakeholders, neighbouring communities.” Wright doesn’t believe the city will be negatively impacted by not participating in TransLink’s planning process. “Quite the contrary – we want to prevent something going off the rails,” he
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said. “We want to know our priorities first.” Wright said the city would be in a position to better convey the city’s needs to TransLink after consulting with its residents through the master transportation plan process. He said TransLink also needs to consider the impact of the Port Mann Bridge when planning the new Pattullo Bridge, as that could create an “entirely new” transportation situation for the region. Now underway, the city’s master transportation plan will provide a framework for the city’s transportation projects and provide input into the official community plan. Aspects will include the review and evaluation of transportation demand
and supply for all modes of transportation including pedestrians, cyclists, transit, motorists and goods movement. “The master transportation plan has to be done – and not piecemeal,” Wright said. “We don’t want to be seen as proponents of this. We will let them do as they do. We will be doing our own (plan) at the same time. It’s not like we are washing our hands completely. We are standing back so we can have the input and see the issues.” TransLink has indicated it will launch public meetings in early 2012 regarding the replacement of Pattullo Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in the Lower Mainland. “They are working on finalizing the date,” said Eugene Wat, the city’s ◗Pattullo Page 4
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