Planning Better Transportation

The Green Party is committed to improving the quality of life in communities by providing a variety of clean, affordable, and efficient transportation options. These options include walkable neighbourhoods, cycling networks and infrastructure, bus systems that provide frequent and affordable service, and rail of all forms (light rail, commuter and distance passenger rail and freight). Evidence shows we cannot build our way out of traffic grid-lock. Building new superhighways and bridges simply leads to urban sprawl and increases long-term overcrowding.

Key Goals

• Limit urban sprawl
• Encourage walking and cycling
• Improve public oversight of transportation system planning

BC Greens Will

• Prioritize provincial, regional and municipal transportation policy and projects, according to the following hierarchy:
• Pedestrians, Cycling, Transit, Commercial and Goods Vehicles, Taxis, High Occupancy Vehicles, Single Occupant Vehicles
• Ensure the provincial government pays the fair share cost of major capital transport infrastructure, including transit and cycling facilities
• Implement tax-shifting policies that encourage the use of and pay for the provision of sustainable transportation options such as transit, cycling and walking
• Re-establish BC Ferries as a Crown corporation with a mandate to serve the BC public as a waterway extension of the public highway system and require that all BC ferries be built in BC
• Cancel all Gateway projects, including new bridge construction, highway widening in the lower mainland and the pipeline project in the north and the energy corridor through central BC
• Establish community rail service on, but not limited to, the E&N Railway on Vancouver Island and the former Interurban Line in the Fraser Valley
• Require all Official Community Plans to include a complete streets policy, detailing plans for pedestrians, cyclists and people in wheelchairs and other assistive modes of transportation
• Tie ICBC rates to the distance driven (Pay-As-You-Drive (PAYD) vehicle insurance), vehicle type and vehicle age
• Expand the HOV network
  Introduce Location Efficient Mortgages, enabling car-free citizens to afford housing in urban centres
• Study the implementation of various incentives and disincentives that support sustainable transportation infrastructure, such as tax increment financing, tax base sharing, vehicle registration fees, congestion pricing, local option sales taxes, and parking site taxes

“A Green transportation strategy will connect communities through efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transportation measures. As we move to give British Columbians equitable access to public transit, we will also move to reform automotive insurance to be more fair for motorists while also helping the environment.”

- Trevor Loke
Candidate, Surrey Newton.