Provincial transportation minister Claire Trevena says safety on Highway 101 has improved over the past 10 years and, for now at least, traffic volumes do not support the significant cost of a major redesign.
In a letter sent to Sechelt council in early October, which came up for public discussion at council’s Nov. 21 meeting, Trevena said, “I recognize the importance of Highway 101 to the local community, as well as the impact a growing population and increased tourist traffic has on this key route, particularly during the busy summer months.”
Trevena goes on to reference the 2011 Integrated Transportation Study, which looked at ideas for upgrading the existing highway and adding major bypass sections.
“As you are likely aware, the ministry previously studied the concept of a new highway between Gibsons and Sechelt and shared the results with local communities,” Trevena wrote. “The review of traffic volumes did not support the significant cost to build this highway.”
Trevena’s letter was in response to council’s letter of support for the group SC101, which was formed over the summer to advocate for improvements, including a bypass.
“Increased traffic volume in recent years has also contributed to concerns with traffic safety along the highway. Highway 101 is essential to the safety and well-being of our community,” the letter of support said.
Trevena’s response leaves the door open to addressing safety issues.
“We continue to monitor traffic volumes and development in the area, as well as work with the local communities, the Sechelt First Nation and private developers to identify future safety and capacity improvements on the existing Highway 101 corridor.”
The minister also points to $5.3 million in work on Highway 101 in the past 10 years, including “new crosswalks, cycling signs, shoulder widening, widened transit pullouts and enhanced signs and road markings along the corridor.”
She added: “Our data show that during this time, the safety performance on this route has improved significantly, with a 26 per cent reduction in the severity and frequency of collisions through the communities.”
Coun. Matt McLean called the response “pretty disappointing” and said he wants to make sure the district keeps the issue of highway safety in front of the minister.
“I’m wondering if there’s any action we can do to identify those safety issues a bit more actively and keep this issue forward, because I don’t want this letter to be the end of this issue.”
Mayor Darnelda Siegers said she expects there will be opportunities to get the message to provincial ministers through the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and Union of BC Municipalities.
Siegers also said SC101 is hoping to meet with either Trevena or her deputy when a petition they’ve been working on is presented at the legislature.
The group’s Robin Merriott told Coast Reporter they are holding off on presenting the petition until February. He said they hope to use the time to add to the 5,000 signatures they’ve already gathered and to get renewed expressions of support from the newly-elected local government representatives.
Speaking on Eastlink Community TV’s Talk to Your Local Government on Nov. 16, Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons said he met recently with Trevena to discuss the bypass and a new review of the need for upgrades on Highway 101. He pointed out that cost remains a big challenge. The province announced earlier this year that it would be rebuilding a short section of 101 just south of Lund on the upper Sunshine Coast.
“The cost of 0.9 kilometres was $2.5 million, so we’re talking about expensive infrastructure, despite the fact that it doesn’t look [expensive],” he said.
