FAQ
Could a revised streetscape design enable new infill residential lots in the centre of the roadway given Port Alberni’s wide streets?
Land-use decisions are guided by policy in the Official Community Plan and not the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The City of Port Alberni has sufficient land available to meet future housing needs without infilling roadways with new developable lots.
In addition to pavement for motor vehicles, the public right-of-way also needs to be wide enough to provide space for buried and overhead utilities (water, sewer, hydro, gas, telecom, cable), on-street parking for commercial areas, as well as street trees/landscaping, and active transportation facilities (cycling, walking, rolling). In downtown areas, increased public use areas such as wider sidewalks, patios and street furniture benefit all residents.
The draft directions of the TMP include a Complete Streets Policy, which would result in the narrowing of pavement on wide streets in favour of other public improvements such as wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, “flex lanes” (accessible parking, pick-up/drop-off, loading, transit services, etc.) and planted boulevards.
How much influence does the City have over highways through the city? For example, can the City link the Roger Creek Trails to Coombs Candy Store and Lookout?
The Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT) has jurisdiction over highway rights-of-way, and roads outside the City limits. Trail network planning outside of the City falls under the jurisdiction of the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD). The Transportation Master Plan encompasses only transportation corridors controlled by the City (within City limits).
The Coombs Candy store and Lookout are not within the City’s boundary.
Is it possible to prevent Beaver Creek vehicles from turning left onto Compton Road?
Prohibiting turns from Beaver Creek Road onto Compton Road is not recommended, as Compton Road is a designated collector road and an important part of the road network. However, Compton Road between Beaver Creek Road and Gertrude Street has been identified as an area of elevated safety risk. If the proposed policies and network improvement programs are adopted, this corridor would be a priority for upgrades such as sidewalks, intersection safety improvements at Beaver Creek Road, and enhanced pedestrian crossings.
If a Truck Route Bylaw is adopted, it is likely that commercial truck traffic would no longer be permitted to use Compton Road as a through route (local trips only).
It is also anticipated that, once the new roundabout at Beaver Creek Road and River Road is complete and southbound traffic flow improves at that location, there will be fewer vehicles using Compton Road.
Why do bike routes have to go along major roads?
The network prioritizes safer and more direct cycling connections to key destinations. Travel destinations are often located on collector or arterial routes (businesses, transit connections, government offices, etc.).
The existing bike routes were developed through the City’s 2014 Active Transportation Plan and include routes on arterial and collector roads. However, many of these are currently less-safe shared-lane bike routes that are not recommended for busier roads. The draft Future Cycling Network Plan proposes safety improvements to some of these routes (such as fully protected bike lanes on 10th Avenue, Lathom Road, and Gertrude Street). Expanding the multi-use pathway network to provide off-street bike travel parallel to major vehicle routes is also proposed.
Have you considered clarifying what kind of vehicles use bike and pedestrian paths?
Yes, a review of the City’s bylaws on what types of transportation should be permissible on what types of roads, paths, and trails is in progress. Recommendations will be included in the draft Transportation Master Plan.
Is Tsa-Waay-Uus included as a destination for a bus stop?
The Transportation Master Plan will not include recommendations specific to bus stops because BC Transit, a provincial agency, is responsible for bus route and bus stop planning for the City of Port Alberni.
However, the City is documenting community feedback on transit needs through the Transportation Master Planning process, which will be included in our Transportation Master Plan for BC Transit’s consideration. We also recommend that citizens contact BC Transit directly with any concerns or feedback.
Is 10th Avenue south of Argyle being considered for re-painting and safety improvements?
Yes, updated road design standards, including pavement markings, are being developed for 10th Avenue. Furthermore, 10th Avenue south of Argyle Street is identified in the Draft Future Cycling Network Plan as a Bikeway (shared roadway with painted “sharrow” markings). The Draft Future Pedestrian Network Plan also identifies this section for sidewalk upgrades.
The draft strategies would result in 10th Avenue being upgraded to the new design standards at the time when the road surface needs to be replaced due to deteriorated road conditions.
What is the timeline for the transportation projects being considered?
The timing of transportation projects and implementation of the proposed network plans are contingent on the 2042 draft Official Community Plan. The sequence of projects depend on factors including budget constraints, changes in community priorities, growth patterns, and availability of grants.
A Capital Plan will identify proposed construction dates spanning the first seven years for high to medium priorities. Less critical projects identified in the Transportation Master Plan will be proposed for implementation beyond the seven-year horizon, with timing to be determined through an update to the Master Plan in four to five years.
What’s the plan to repair existing potholes and general road disrepair?
The Transportation Master Plan will include a Road Rehabilitation Program that outlines priorities for repaving and rebuilding roads based on current conditions and roadway function. Project priorities will also consider the results of a recently completed City-wide Pavement Condition Assessment.
Minor road repairs such as pothole filling, crack-sealing and patching are completed by Public Works Operations crews on an as-needed basis.
Are there specific plans to maintain existing active transportation routes?
Yes, the Transportation Master Plan is proposed to include identified priority routes for repair. Furthermore, the TMP will include a recommendation for dedicating a portion of the road maintenance budget to a new dedicated bicycle infrastructure maintenance budget, so that the maintenance of these facilities will not suffer at the expense of other road maintenance priorities.
When will the City construct a 10th Avenue to Cherry Creek Road crossing of Roger Creek?
In the 1980s, the City held a referendum on whether to construct another vehicle bridge crossing of Roger Creek, on the condition of receiving federal/provincial funding to do so. Although the referendum result was in favour of a bridge, the City was not successful in obtaining funding. Past estimates put the bridge‘s cost in the $10 million to $20 million price range, in today’s dollars.
Traffic modelling for existing and projected (year 2042) conditions was completed as part of this project. Results indicate that acceptable traffic flow performance will be met on the City’s road network without another Roger Creek crossing. An additional motor vehicle bridge across Roger Creek is not recommended within the planning horizon.
The Draft Future Pedestrian and Cycling Network Plans include an enhanced connection across Roger Creek for active modes of transportation.
The trail approaches to the bridge on the Scott Kenny trail are steep and limit the use of this crossing. Longer and more gradually sloped pathways into the valley, possibly with a higher-level pedestrian/active transportation bridge to reduce the total elevation change, would be a big improvement to pedestrian and cycling route networks.