Results from the Highway 101 corridor review may not be what thousands of residents on the Sunshine Coast were hoping for, according to Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons.
“I don’t think the statistics indicate that our highway as it exists – goat trail, whatever you want to call it – has, necessarily, the indicators of danger that some people might conclude,” said Simons on Feb. 21.
His remarks came during at the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce’s annual general meeting, held at Blue Ocean Golf Club.
During a Q&A period, a submitted question referenced a petition, signed by 6,500 people and presented at the B.C. legislature by Simons last March, demanding a bypass. “What is lacking is the political drive to make this a priority. When will you be pushing your government to deliver on the plan that has been on the books for more than 30 years to commence construction?”
Simons said he “repeatedly” brings up the issue and that for the first time since he was elected, the government undertook a new study. “There hasn’t been a study, really, since the original plan, the bypass,” he said.
He also told the audience he’d been given the opportunity to preview the corridor review.
The study, which launched a year ago, examined safety, travel time, congestion, ferry traffic impacts and other performance indicators of Highway 101 between Langdale and the Redrooffs Road exit closest to Sechelt.
He described it as “very specific about driving times,” such as where bottlenecks occur, and that it “will probably conclude that a new highway will reduce your trip from Langdale to Sechelt by five minutes.”
“This is not a conversation that’s going to end,” said Simons. “It’s not over, but the study is not going to be as positive as I think some people are hoping.”
He also mentioned that others are resistant to a new highway, and that he would also be pushing for safety improvements, regardless of what the study concludes. “If the government is going to tell us there’s no fund for extending the bypass, then we’re certainly going to have to expect a lot of improvements in other ways,” he said.
Another highway-related issue raised during the Q&A came from Simons himself, who asked for ideas for creating a “unique structure” to allow a private company to re-establish bus service from Langdale to Powell River. The service, which was operated by a private company, halted last year. “It really has a significant impact on who can move to our communities,” he said.
One member of the audience was ready with an idea.
Ryan Staley has an application pending approval with the Passenger Transportation Board, and is hoping to launch his ride hailing company, Coastal Rides, later this year.
He said his application referenced the fact that the private bus service only operated seasonally. “Having shared ride services on demand may, partially, fulfill some of that need,” he said. “We’ll see if we can make it as affordable as riding a bus.”
