Looking 25 years into the NWT's future
GNWT holding first public meetings on a territorial transportation strategy since 1990
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, April 27, 2015
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The Department of Transportation wants to know what the public thinks should be the priorities of a new 25-year transportation strategy for the NWT.
Highway 5 is expected to be the main topic of conversation when the Department of Transportation holds a public meeting in Fort Smith on April 28. In 2010, improvements were made to a section of the highway in preparation for chipsealing the following summer. - NNSL file photo |
And to get that feedback, the department has launched a series of public information sessions.
This week, a meeting will be held in Fort Smith on April 28 and another in Hay River on April 29.
The first meeting in the series was held in Fort Simpson April 23. Future meetings will take place in Norman Wells on May 6, Inuvik on May 7, Behchoko on May 12 and Yellowknife on May 13.
"Transportation is really something that touches the lives of everybody here in the North," said Pietro de Bastiani, assistant director of policy, planning and communications with the Department of Transportation.
"Everybody has opinions and ideas about where things can improve."
De Bastiani will be at the meetings, along with departmental staff from the various regions.
The first transportation strategy was created in 1990, when Nunavut was still part of the NWT.
"It's been a very useful guide over those years," said de Bastiani. "Some of the priorities have not significantly changed."
The main themes are to maintain existing infrastructure, expand the system to meet new opportunities and better connect communities, along with finding innovative ways to deliver programs and services.
The Department of Transportation's main regulatory responsibility is the road system in the NWT, including four highway ferries across rivers. It also operates and maintains airports.
Transport Canada is responsible for regulating air, marine and rail transportation, although the GNWT advocates in those areas.
"The NWT Transportation Strategy 2015-2040 will guide improvements to the NWT transportation system over the next 25 years," stated Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu in a news release.
"Transportation services are very important to our communities and businesses, and we want to ensure that residents see their priorities for the future of transportation captured in the strategy."
Some work has already been done to gather input, including online and written surveys and face-to-face interviews with NWT political leaders, transportation stakeholders and the public.
"Over 500 respondents answered our online survey last fall," Beaulieu said. "I encourage residents to participate in the upcoming information sessions to share their views on how to further improve our transportation system."
The minister said making strategic investments in transportation infrastructure will help reduce the cost of living for NWT residents and support economic development.
For the upcoming meeting in Fort Smith, Mayor Brad Brake expects the main topic of discussion will be Highway 5, which still has a 63-kilometre gravel section.
"People say, 'Well, it's good gravel road,'" he said.
"It is good gravel road, but it would be much better for the community of Fort Smith if the remainder of Highway 5 would be chipsealed."
Brake believes the gravel section is limiting tourism growth in Fort Smith. As evidence, he pointed to the fact that one in four Albertans have recreational vehicles and they don't like to drive those vehicles over gravel roads.
"We could definitely increase our tourism visitors if that road was completed with chipseal," he said, adding that would be an economic benefit to the community.
In 2011, the gravel section of Highway 5 was decreased by 45 km with a chipsealing project.
"It's shrinking, but not fast enough," said Brake.
De Bastiani said the Department of Transportation has been advised by the federal government that, since the section of gravel highway is within Wood Buffalo National Park, the territorial government has to deal with the minister responsible for the National Park Infrastructure Fund.
That is Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq, who is responsible for Parks Canada.
"We have built that business case and we have submitted it to the federal government," said de Bastiani. "So we're working on trying to get attention to that critical section of Highway 5."
The business case was submitted within the last three months.
De Bastiani said the department submitted what it believes is a good case and it is looking forward to receiving a favourable response, although he could not predict when that might happen.
The GNWT currently maintains the gravel section of Highway 5 within the national park with funding assistance from Parks Canada.
