Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, was joined today by Rich Coleman, MLA Fort Langley-Aldergrove, on behalf of Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Jack Froese, Mayor of the Township of Langley, to announce funding for widening Highway 1 from 202nd Street to a new interchange at 216th Street under the New Building Canada Plan in British Columbia.

The federal government is contributing $22.3 million to the $59 million project; the Provincial government is being asked to contribute up to $22.3 million pending Treasury Board approval and the Township of Langley is contributing $14.3 million to the interchange portion.

Highway 1 is the primary transportation corridor in the province and it is an important component of the Asia-Pacific Gateway shipping network – connecting B.C.’s Lower Mainland with the rest of the province and beyond. When complete, the wider highway will reduce travel times on a safer highway network through Metro Vancouver.

The New Building Canada Plan is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in Canada’s history. This unprecedented commitment is providing $53 billion to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure, between 2014 and 2024.

Over this 10-year period, British Columbia will benefit from approximately $3.9 billion in dedicated federal funding, including almost $1.1 billion under the New Building Canada Fund.

This project reflects a commitment to improve highway safety as part of the province's 10-year transportation strategy – B.C. on the Move. This plan will improve the province's transportation network providing a comprehensive road map for transportation investments and strategic policy actions over the next decade.

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada has selected this project for funding consideration of eligible costs, to a maximum of $22.3 million under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the New Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
• The Government of British Columbia is being asked to contribute up to $22.3 million, pending Treasury Board approval, for a total estimated cost of $59 million.
• The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
  • The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
  • The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
    • The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
    • The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000residents through the Small Communities Fund.
  • An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.
• As part of B.C. on the Move, almost $2.5 billion will be invest to grow the economy, improve safety, maintain and replace aging infrastructure and support trade for B.C.'s expanding resource sectors over the next three years alone.
• Included in this, the government of B.C. will invest more than $800 million in highway and bridge rehabilitation and safety improvement.
• The B.C. government has budgeted almost $1 billion over the next three years to ensure our network has the capacity to meet the transport and trade needs of the province – a key to growth and prosperity.

Quotes:

Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec ─

“The government’s support for public infrastructure has never been stronger. We are pleased to work with the Government of British Columbia to approve projects under the New Building Canada Fund, to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in the Greater Vancouver area as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada. We are proud to invest in the highway widening and interchange project which will focus on reducing highway congestion and improving safety in the Greater Vancouver area.”

Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, on behalf of Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure ─

“This builds on the success of the Port Mann Highway 1 Project. By adding a lane in each direction and a new interchange, travel times will be reduced. Highway 1 is an essential corridor in the region for the movement of goods, tourism and commuting. This is an important project for the Lower Mainland, and I am pleased that the Government of Canada and Township of Langley are supporting it.”

Township of Langley Mayor Jack Froese ─

“A new Highway 1 interchange at 216 Street has been identified by the Township of Langley as an important transportation link for years. We are thrilled to see it moving forward. This project will be welcomed by our residents and local businesses as it provides an alternate transportation route and relieves traffic congestion along our main corridors. This much needed interchange will make it easier to move efficiently and safely throughout our community.”

Associated Links:

To learn more about the New Building Canada Fund – Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects, please visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html

To learn more about the Government of Canada’s focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada’s Economic Action Plan at: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html