Another $2.5 billion will be funnelled into transportation in the province of B.C. thanks to an announcement today by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

The 10-year plan, called B.C. on the Move, focuses on developments and improvements for highways, roads and safety.

Of the $2.5 billion, $800 million will be spent in the next three years improving existing infrastructure and $1 billion toward expanding the network of highways.

Highlights from the plan’s priorities are listed in sequence below:

• Rehabilitating highways, bridges and side roads
  • $380 million to resurface provincial highways
  • $180 million to repair and replace provincial bridges
  • $270 to improve the condition of provincial side roads
• Improving highway safety
  • $75 million for a Road Safety Improvement Program
  • $30 million for intersection safety improvements
• Improving highway capacity and reliability
  • $1 billion to ensuring network of highways has the capacity and reliability to meet transport and trade needs, with maximum safety and minimal delays and uncertainties
  • Including advance development of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project
  • Initiate design for future construction of six-laning on Highway 1 from Langley to Abbotsford
  • Plan and deliver highway interchange and overpass projects throughout the Lower Mainland
  • Construct highway widening, capacity, safety and operational improvements on provincial highways throughout the Lower Mainland
• Delivering a provincial trucking strategy
• Investing in transit
  • $312 million for BC Transit operating out side of Metro Vancouver
  • Fund one-third of the cost of new rapid transit projects, and the Patullo Bridge, provided they can be accommodated within the provincial fiscal plan and the investments are supported by a business case
  • Work with the region to secure federal funding for rapid transit
• Investing in cycling
  • $18 million to build new bike lanes and trails throughout B.C.
• Investing in airports
  • $24 million to the B.C. Air Access Program
• Enabling efficient ports and rail
• Sustaining and renewing ferries
  • pursue strategies to achieve the vision of an affordable, sustainable and efficient coastal ferry service
• Building partnerships with First Nations
• Improving accessibility
  • Partner with TransLink to make additional accessibility upgrades to SkyTrain stations, including adding new and improved elevators and escalators, and removing any barriers to movement
• Protecting the environment
  • $6 million to conserve habitat and improve fish and wildlife protection
  • $3.9 million to deliver invasive plant management programs