B.C. lobbies to open HOV lanes to trucks

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. (Jan. 19) — To reduce traffic congestion on Lower Mainland highways, the British Columbia Trucking Association has asked the provincial government to open HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes on the Trans-Canada Highway between the Grandview Highway Exit in Vancouver and the Cape Horn Exchange to all traffic during non-peak hours.

“If the HOV lanes on the Number 1 Highway achieve satisfactory volumes, the traffic in the remaining lanes should move more freely,” said BCTA president Paul Landry. “If the HOV lanes are not being used, we recommend that, at the very least, the lanes be open to all traffic during non-peak hours as they are on the Barnet-Hastings corridor.”

The association estimates that up to $3.4 million a year can be saved in truck waiting time if the HOV lanes are open to all traffic during non-peak hours.

Peak hours are defined by the Ministry of Highways as from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The HOV lanes on the 16.5-kilometre stretch from the Grandview exit to the Cape Horn Exchange are in force around the clock. Trucks are restricted from using the lane.

Congestion in the remaining four lanes results in higher transportation costs for goods being shipped to, from, and through the Lower Mainland, Landry said. In 1991, the last time a comprehensive government study was done, at an average truck operating cost of about $50 an hour, congestion in the Lower Mainland added an extra $110 million in transportation costs. The problem has only become worse, he argued.

“We’re not against HOV lanes,” said Landry, “but we do think that $60 million [the cost to create HOV lanes on the highway] is a lot of tax payer money to spend on allowing a few hundred cars an hour the privilege of speeding back and forth from the Port Mann Bridge during off-peak hours.”