Halcrow Analysis of Transit-Only Option

Krajczar, Karoly. Re: Assessment of Transit-only Option for Port Mann Bridge. 31 Mar. 2006 Halcrow Consulting. 1 Nov. 2008 website.

Memo by Halcrow, an infrastructure consultation company, who has been commission by GP to analyze LRC claims that current and future congestion issues on PMB can be solved using only transit. The sketch planning method is used to show that a 20% transit mode share of commuters on the Port Mann Bridge, more than the regional average, could only reduce 350 vehicles. This figure is not enough considering the 650 vehicle queue during the peak morning commute. They state the problem with using transit on the PMB is that it would have to compete with the SkyTrain. The results are the same when using a reliable and frequently used transportation model with a frequency 40 buses per hour. Ridership is estimated at 660 passengers but most are estimated to have been newly generated commuters or been taken from the SkyTrain and only 100 vehicles removed from the Port Mann Bridge queue. The conclusion is that transit-only solutions are not a viable alternative to expanding the Highway 1 corridor.

There are some issues based on historical Halcrow cooperation with the GP and other governmental infrastructure projects. They may have an advantage of good knowledge of the situation; however it is in their interest to keep these infrastructure programs moving to make themselves more business. Their methodology seems sound, especially the use of two models to prove their data. However the seem to miss the point that the LRC demands transit improvements everywhere not just on the congested H1; the PMB express bus would not be competing with the SkyTrain but work with it.

November 3

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