British Columbia Ministry of Transportation
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The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is the
British Columbia government The Executive Council of British Columbia (the Cabinet) is the Cabinet of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Almost always composed of members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, the Cabinet is similar in structure and ro ...
ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
responsible for
transport Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipelin ...
infrastructure and
law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
in the Canadian province of
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. It is currently led by
Rob Fleming Rob Fleming is a Canadian politician who represents the riding of Victoria-Swan Lake in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. From July 2017 to November 2020, during the 41st Parliament, he was the Minister of Education. Fleming is a m ...
. The ministry is responsible for the planning of transportation networks, providing transportation services and infrastructure, developing and implementing transportation policies, and administering many transportation-related acts and regulations. Its responsibilities include ports, airports, public transit, ferry services, roads and cycling networks. The ministry is also responsible for the following Crown Corporations:
BC Transportation Financing Authority BC most often refers to: * Before Christ, a calendar era based on the traditionally reckoned year of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth * British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada * Baja California, a state of Mexico BC may also refer to: ...
,
BC Railway Company BC Rail is a railway in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Chartered as a private company in 1912 as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE), it was acquired by the provincial government in 1918. In 1972 it was renamed to the British ...
,
BC Transit BC Transit is a provincial crown corporation responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside Greater Vancouver. BC Transit is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia. In , the syst ...
, the
Transportation Investment Corporation Transportation Investment Corporation (TI Corp) is a public crown corporation, established in 2008 under the Transportation Investment Act, to implement the Port Mann/Highway 1 Improvement Project, including construction, operations and mainten ...
, the
Insurance Corporation of British Columbia The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) is a provincial Crown corporation in British Columbia providing insurance. ICBC was created in 1973 by the NDP government of Premier Dave Barrett. By law, any vehicle registered and driven ...
and the
BC Pavilion Corporation Crown corporations in Canada are government organizations with a mixture of commercial and public-policy objectives.Tupper, Allan. 2006 February 7.Crown Corporation" ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (last edited 2021 March 18). Retrieved 2021 May 1 ...
.


Mandate

The purpose of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is to: * Create an integrated and safe transportation network that incorporates all modes of transport, including rail transit, reflects regional priorities, and provides a strong foundation for economic growth; and; * Maintain and improve the provincial highway system, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods provincially, nationally and internationally


History

The history of the ministry can be traced back to 1854 when three road commissioners were appointed to oversee the expenditure of the first appropriation of £500. * In 1858, the Department of Lands and Works was created under the Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works. * In 1871, a Constitutional Act set up the Land and Works Department to locate, construct, and maintain highways and bridges. * On May 7 1908, a separate Department of Public Works was formed and placed under a Minister of Public Works. * On March 15, 1955, highways became the responsibility of the new Department of Highways and on June 30, 1976, the Department of Highways and Public Works. * On September 27, 1977, the Ministerial Titles Amendment Act was passed and the department became a ministry. * On December 5, 1978, Transportation and Communication were added to the portfolio and the title became the Ministry of Transportation, Communications, and Highways. * On November 23, 1979, the Ministry of Transportation and Highways was established. * On June 5, 2001, the name of the ministry changed to Ministry of Transportation. * On June 23, 2008, the name of the ministry changed to Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.


Organization

The ministry is organized into five different departments: * Finance and Management Services Department ** The Finance and Management Services Department supports the ministry's financial and administrative activities. * Highways Department ** The Highways Department is the delivery arm of the ministry, responsible for planning, building operating and maintaining the ministry's transportation infrastructure, including providing information on Drivebc. The department is also home to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement Branch. *** To deliver its mandate, the Highways Department has several offices in communities throughout the province. The offices are organized by region and then by district: **** South Coast Region ***** Lower Mainland District ***** Vancouver Island District **** Southern Interior Region ***** Rocky Mountain District ***** West Kootenay District ***** Okanagan-Shuswap District ***** Thompson Nicola District ***** Cariboo District **** Northern Region ***** Peace District ***** Fort George District ***** Bulkley-Stikine District ***** Skeena District * Infrastructure Department ** The Infrastructure Department is responsible for the ministry's transportation investment plan and oversees infrastructure grant programs. It also oversees the ministry's involvement in the Evergreen Line and the marine branch, which looks after the ministry's responsibilities related to coastal and inland ferries. * Partnerships Department ** The Partnerships Department is responsible for property procurement and management, project governance and corporate initiatives, operations and procurement and the Transit Branch, which looks after the Provincial Transit Plan. * Transportation Policy & Programs Department ** The focus of the Transportation Policy & Programs Department is the province's surface, air and marine policy, Pacific Gateway Strategy, as well as the Passenger Transportation Branch, which supervises commercial passenger vehicles.


Ministry inventory

The ministry looks after a large number of transportation-related assets, including: * Border Crossings 53 ** Alberta 24 ** Alaska 1 ** Idaho 2 ** Montana 1 ** Northwest Territories 1 ** Washington 17 ** Yukon Territory 7 * Changeable Message Signs 52 * Culverts** 183,962 * Gravel Reserve 2,744 * Guardrail*** 16,375 * Large Culverts (> diameter) 652 * Large Other Tunnels* (Generally > Width) 83 * Large Retaining Walls ( height) 1,090 * Other Tunnels* 300 * Railway Level Crossings 651 * Rest Areas 174 * Retaining Walls** 556 * Road Tunnels (> width) 69 * Sign Structures 217 * Signs** 247,493 * Snowsheds 4 * Total Road Kilometres 47,647 (Miles ) * Traffic Signals 694 Of Note: *Includes: pedestrian/cattle/animal tunnels** Inventory currently being updated*** Count of Guardrail locations


Ferries

The Ministry of Transportation is responsible for the provision of inland ferry services on the province's rivers and lakes, although it generally contracts the operation of these services to private sector companies. The ferries provided by the ministry include: *
Adams Lake Cable Ferry Adams may refer to: * For persons, see Adams (surname) Places United States * Adams, California *Adams, California, former name of Corte Madera, California *Adams, Decatur County, Indiana * Adams, Kentucky *Adams, Massachusetts, a New England to ...
, across
Adams Lake Adams Lake is a large, deep, coldwater lake in British Columbia, Canada; its average depth ranks 6th in the world. The southern end of the lake is approximately north of the town of Chase in the Shuswap Country region of British Columbia. The ...
*
Arrow Park Ferry An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...
, across the
Arrow Lakes The Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, divided into Upper Arrow Lake and Lower Arrow Lake, are widenings of the Columbia River. The lakes are situated between the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashee Mountains to the west. Bea ...
at Arrow Park * Barnston Island Ferry, across an arm of the Fraser River between Barnston Island and Port Kells *
Big Bar Ferry Big Bar Ferry is a cable ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is located about north of the town of Lillooet and west of Clinton. 6 km upstream from the ferry is French Bar Canyon (sometimes known as Big Bar Canyon) ...
, across the Fraser River at Big Bar * Francois Lake Ferry, across Francois Lake from Francois Lake to Southbank * GladeFerry, across the
Kootenay River The Kootenay or Kootenai river is a major river in the Northwest Plateau, in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Montana and Idaho in the United States. It is one of the uppermost major tributary, tributaries of the Columbia Ri ...
*
Harrop Cable Ferry The Harrop Ferry is a cable ferry at Harrop Narrows on the west arm of Kootenay Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The crossing, off BC Highway 3A, is by road about northeast of Nelson and west of Balfour. Pla ...
, across the Kootenay River *
Kootenay Lake Ferry The Kootenay Lake ferry is a ferry across Kootenay Lake in southeastern British Columbia, which operates between Balfour, on the west side of the lake, and Kootenay Bay, on the east side. The MV ''Osprey 2000'' and the MV ''Balfour'' are the two v ...
, across Kootenay Lake between Balfour and
Kootenay Bay Kootenay Bay is an unincorporated community on the east shore of Kootenay Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The ferry terminal and former steamboat landing, on BC Highway 3A, is by road about north of Creston a ...
*
Little Fort Ferry The Little Fort Ferry is a cable ferry across the North Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated at Little Fort, British Columbia, Little Fort, about north of Kamloops, British Columbia, Kamloops. Technically, the ferry is a re ...
, across the
North Thompson River The North Thompson River is the northern branch of the Thompson River, the largest tributary of the Fraser River, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It originates at the toe of the Thompson Glacier in the Premier Range of the Cariboo ...
*
Lytton Ferry The Lytton Ferry is a cable ferry across the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north of Lytton. Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable is su ...
, across the Fraser River at Lytton *
McLure Ferry The McLure Ferry is a cable ferry across the North Thompson River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north of Kamloops. Specifically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cab ...
, across the North Thompson River *
Needles Cable Ferry The Needles Ferry is a cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Linking Needles and Fauquier, the ferry, part of BC Highway 6, is by road about southeast of Vernon and southwest of N ...
, across the Arrow Lakes at Needles *
Upper Arrow Lake Ferry The Upper Arrow Lake Ferry is a ferry across Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Linking Shelter Bay and Galena Bay, the ferry, part of BC Highway 23, is by road about south of Revelstoke and north ...
, across the Arrow Lakes between Shelter Bay and Galena Bay. *
Usk Ferry The Usk Ferry is a cable ferry across the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated about north-east of Terrace at Usk. Technically, the ferry is a reaction ferry, which is propelled by the current of the water. An overhead cable ...
, across the
Skeena River The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada (after the Fraser River). Since ancient times, the Skeena has been an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan—whose n ...
at
Usk Usk ( cy, Brynbuga) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks th ...
Coastal ferry services are not the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Instead they are provided by
BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferr ...
.


References


External links

* {{Canadian Ministries of Transportation Transport in British Columbia British Columbia government departments and agencies
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
Public works ministries Transport organizations based in Canada