Fwd: Port Mann/Highway 1 Project Draft Terms of Reference

As usual, this is simply a formality. It would be good to write letters and generally make a big public fuss about this, however you think best. Note the funny disclaimer at the end, as if getting on the Online Gateway Survey email list is private or something. Can we please have George Bush and these highway building monsters in jail please already. Ever notice the weather?

~rusl

From: "GATEWAY PROGRAM INFORMATION GTWY:EX" <Info@GatewayProgram.bc.ca>
To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
November 8, 2006                                                                File: 42000-30/9406A

To Whom It May Concern:

This email is to inform you the Port Mann/Highway 1 Project draft Terms of Reference (TOR) will be available for public comment beginning on November 9, 2006.   The formal 30-day public comment period on the draft TOR will run from November 9 to December 8, 2006.

The Ministry of Transportation is proposing to construct improvements to the Highway 1 corridor and the Port Mann Bridge, which includes widening of the highway, twinning the Port Mann Bridge, upgrading interchanges and improving access and safety on Highway 1, from McGill Street in Vancouver to 216th Street in Langley. Generally, one additional lane in each direction is planned from McGill Street to the Port Mann Bridge. Two additional lanes are also planned in each direction from the Port Mann Bridge to 200^th Street in Langley.

Proposed improvements also include extension of HOV lanes, transit and commercial vehicle priority access to highway on/off-ramps, improvements to the cycling network and a toll on the Port Mann Bridge.

The purpose of the draft TOR is to identify what the Ministry of Transportation must include in its application for an environmental assessment certificate. After taking working group public comments into consideration, the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) will finalize the TOR and issue them to the Ministry of Transportation.

The project is subject to review under British Columbia s Environmental Assessment Act, S.B.C. 2002, c.43 and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate will be developed in accordance with the requirements of the final TOR. The review of the application by the EAO will include a comment period to gather public and stakeholder feedback on the contents of the application.  This is expected to take place in spring 2007.

The draft TOR and further information about the process is available at www.eao.gov.bc.ca.  The draft TOR will be available on the EAO website November 9, 2006.

For more information about the Port Mann Highway 1 Project and other Gateway Program projects, please visit the Program website at: www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca or call the Program information line at: (604) 456-2420.

Yours truly,
Garry Dawson

Senior Project Director, Port Mann / Highway 1

This e-mail is intended solely for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, dissemination, copying, printing or other use of this e-mail by persons or entities other than the addressee is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer.