Tuesday, June 12, 2014
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Earlier today, representatives from The Vancouver Board of Trade attended a stakeholder briefing at TransLink's office, prior to the public release of the Mayors' Council 30-Year Transportation Strategy for Metro Vancouver.
Below are some initial reactions from The Vancouver Board of Trade's President and CEO, Iain Black, on behalf of the city's leading business organization.
"One of our organization's core beliefs is that our economy cannot thrive without the efficient, reliable and safe movement of goods and people. Transportation is critical to our shared economic destiny. With that in mind, the business community is encouraged to see Metro Vancouver's mayors working together in an unprecedented way, to and formulate a joint strategy for the next decade, and tackle the very pressing challenges that lie ahead."
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"The Vancouver Board of Trade is pleased that today's strategy places an emphasis on alleviating congestion and addressing regional growth, a move that resonates with The Vancouver Board of Trade's Principles for Regional Transportation — a document we submitted to the Mayors' Council late last month. It's abundantly clear that congestion in the Lower Mainland costs our economy dearly and negatively impacts B.C.'s reputation as Canada's Gateway to the Pacific. In our consultation with the Mayors' Council, we made it clear that their strategy must recognize the need for integrated transportation and land-use planning across all levels of government."
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"The Vancouver Board of Trade is very pleased to see the extension of the Millennium Line along Broadway to Arbutus, and eventually to UBC, as an integral part of the Mayors' vision. That extension will be a huge benefit for both residents and local businesses, including many of our member organizations. By increasing transit options in North America's busiest bus corridor, we are making it easier for businesses in the area to attract not just new customers, but also a new pool of potential employees. In addition, families can deal with housing affordability challenges by living with one less car, and productive and busy people can save time by having a fast and reliable alternative to sitting in traffic."
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"We are pleased to be involved as a stakeholder, on behalf of our thousands of business members in Metro Vancouver, and we look forward to working with the Mayors, TransLink, other stakeholders and the Province on reviewing the vision through our formal policy review process."
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About The Vancouver Board of Trade:
For 127 years, The Vancouver Board of Trade has worked on behalf of our region's business community to promote prosperity through commerce, trade, and free enterprise. As Western Canada's largest, most active, most engaged business organization, The Vancouver Board of Trade strives to enable and empower its members to succeed, grow and prosper in the global economy.