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Old Posted Nov 5, 2008, 3:55 AM
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Wheels in motion for Abby's transit plan

Abbotsford aims to lead the way in moving people

Christina Toth, The Times
Published: Tuesday, November 04, 2008

The wheels are literally in motion for a made-in-Abbotsford plan to develop public transit as the city grows during the next few decades. The future may also hold light rail connections with neighbouring cities.

Yesterday, city council approved in principle four recommendations put forward by the city's six-month-old Inter Regional Transportation Committee.

The vision "has to be embraced by the community - if the demands aren't there, then it won't happen," said committee chairwoman, Coun. Lynne Harris.

Abbotsford leads the Fraser Valley cities in adopting a transit infrastructure plan, said committee member Alvin Epp, also the Abbotsford Chamber Commerce president.

The outline shows the business community what they can expect to see in the future, he said.

The plan is to protect and develop high-use corridors and hotspots identified in a "horseshoe" that covers much of urban Abbotsford.

It starts in the east at the University of the Fraser Valley and the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, to historic downtown, along South Fraser Way to the civic complex, and west to the Abbotsford International Airport and the burgeoning industrial region near Mount Lehman Road.

The plan includes developing major interchanges to dovetail local transit into regional transit systems.

While it may look ambitious, it's crucial to begin planning now, said committee member Bob Buckingham.

"If we wait for the population to warrant [this], it may be too late," he said.

Population in the urban area is expected to increase by 60 per cent in the next 20 years, while employment in the industrial area is expected to go up 260 per cent.
The council also agreed to give city support to Livability Accord regional transit principles; to support the creation of a light rail committee with nearby cities to look at regional light rail potential; and to support a potential Bombardier light rail demonstration track that may run from Vancouver in time from for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Acceptance of the transit recommendations was timely as the city council was to meet with local MLAs late yesterday afternoon regarding the expansion of McCallum Road interchange and a possible transit loop there, said Harris.

Having a clear vision in place would help capture funding from senior governments, Mayor George Ferguson said.

"Federal support relies totally on getting commitment first from the provincial government," he said.




© Abbotsford Times 2008
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