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Need for Project
Why the CMO was Needed
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Traffic bottlenecks at Shaughnessy Street and Mary Hill Bypass were already common at all times of the day.
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Planned development on Burke Mountain, Dominion Triangle and other areas were expected to create more traffic.
- The City’s Master Transportation Plan forecasted a significant increase in traffic delays on Lougheed Highway, Kingsway Avenue and Mary Hill Bypass if the CMO is not constructed.
- If the project had been delayed, the City would have forfeit $60 million in grants from TransLink – a significant portion of the project cost.
A Business Case for the CMO
City Finances: Construction of the Coast Meridian Overpass was expected to have a positive impact on the City’s long-term finances. By helping Port Coquitlam function as a single community, it was expected to reduce or delay future infrastructure expenses, such as additional fire halls. The CMO was also expected to reduce travel time for operational vehicles, thereby improving productivity in service and program delivery.
Travel Time: The Port Coquitlam Master Transportation Plan, prepared by Urban Systems in 2000, in comparing the Ottawa, Oxford and Coast Meridian Road overpass options, stated: “In general, the annual travel time savings benefits with the Coast Meridian Road overpass are projected to be approximately $7.6 million/year. This is approximately $4.7 million/year higher than the Oxford Street option and significantly greater than any other candidate improvement considered within the Master Transportation Plan.”
Downtown Core: The economic viability of Port Coquitlam’s downtown core was also at risk if the Coast Meridian Overpass was not built. The constant gridlock on Shaughnessy Street and Lougheed Highway was an impediment to the City’s plans to densify (further develop) and revitalize the downtown core. Existing businesses lost money and new investors were deterred by the lack of access.
The Environment: Throughout the day, idling vehicles were stopped in traffic jams on Mary Hill Bypass, Shaughnessy Street, Lougheed Highway and connecting roads – a significant cause of air pollution. The improved access brought by the CMO reduced this detriment to the environment.
A Local Priority
The CMO reflects community priorities:
- The City’s Master Transportation Plan identified the CMO as the preferred option to accommodate more north-south traffic, and 70% of public written feedback favoured the CMO project.
- Local citizens identified transportation as their top priority during public input for the City’s Strategic Plan and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Plan, as well as in an Angus Reid poll by TransLink.
- Voters in 2005 supported an election platform of improving transportation for several Council members.
