The next 10 years might see a new way in and out of the Alberni Valley, according to the province’s new transportation plan.
The province unveiled the plan, titled B.C. On the move on, March 18 with a presentation in Nanaimo.
Included in the plan was a commitment from the Ministry of Transportation to conduct a $100,000 “business case review” on another highway in and out of the Alberni Valley.
Coun. Jack McLeman, a member of the regional district’s transportation committee, said he was enthused by the attention the Port Alberni contingent received at the Nanaimo unveiling.
“We definitely got a lot more attention for being mentioned only on the bottom of page 30, so I say congratulations to everyone who came.”
City economic development manager Pat Deakin was similarly optimistic.
“We had a strong contingent of people there to hear the unveiling of the plan and advocate for this community and infrastructure needs in this community,” Deakin said.
While the highway was the only Alberni Valley specific piece in the plan, some of the priorities outlined in the plan could apply to Port Alberni as well, from LNG plant infrastructure to funding for airports, intersections and cycling.
For airports, the plan stated that “starting in 2015, the province will establish a new program to provide community airports with access to $24 million over the next three years to invest in infrastructure improvements, such as runway extensions, terminal-building expansions, lighting and navigational system upgrades.”
While no specifics were announced, Deakin said the Minister of Transportation Todd Stone said that “our airport was the type of airport they had in mind when committing the funds.”
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