TRAFFIC RISING
Bridge traffic is near normal, with fears it could get worse as people avoid transit
Traffic volumes on major Lower Mainland bridges have returned to near normal levels almost six months after the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down B.C.
It’s a trend that could lead to worsening traffic as people return to work and school and, in some cases, abandon carpooling and transit for single-occupancy vehicles.
“I think the concern is that (traffic) goes above what it was before. Of course, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think there’s reason to be concerned about that,” said Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of B.C.’s school of population and public health.
TransLink, the regional transit authority, owns and maintains five bridges in Metro Vancouver, three of which are well used by commuters: Pattullo, Golden Ears and Knight Street.
All three have seen a steady increase in average weekday volumes — an average rate of 0.34 per cent per day — since the second phase of B.C.’s restart plan went into effect in mid May.
According to TransLink data, March 27 saw the lowest traffic volumes, which were 58 per cent of that day in 2019. Volumes increased to 93 per cent of pre-COVID levels last week, compared to the same week last year.
“As things kind of continue along this trend, I think that we’ll be at pretty near normal levels in a pretty short amount of time, especially with school going back in the next week, and potentially employers looking at bringing employees back to offices a bit as we transition back into the fall,” said TransLink spokesperson Gabrielle Price.
On seven provincial crossings, traffic levels were at their lowest around the end of March and beginning of April. Most saw average weekday traffic drop by 30 to 50 per cent.
Recovery seems to have been on the slow side for the George Massey Tunnel and the Lions Gate, with average weekday traffic for the week of Aug. 17 around 20 per cent lower than the same week last year.
Traffic on the Port Mann for the same week was six per cent lower than last year, and on the Pitt River and Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows it was nine per cent lower. The Queensborough was 12-per-cent lower and the Oak Street was down 16 per cent.
Comparative data is not available for the Alex Fraser Bridge, due to loop malfunctions.
Brauer said it’s no surprise that traffic is returning to normal — in fact, it was expected — but transit has not recovered as quickly and he’s curious where those people have gone. Some have migrated to cycling and walking, while others are undoubtedly working from home, but there are people who will gravitate to their cars.
“From the regional strategy, we definitely like to have those people either back in transit or, if they’re not going to be in transit, not commute at all, or if they are commuting they’re doing it by walking or cycling. Vehicles is the last thing that we’d like,” Brauer said.
Price said TransLink recognizes there is a possibility traffic levels could climb higher than before and that’s why they want to remind people that transit is a viable alternative.
Price pointed to the safety measures the transit authority has taken, including making masks mandatory in transit vehicles late last month. Spot checks conducted at high-volume locations across the system last week showed that out of 31,000 customers observed, about 92 per cent were wearing masks.
Meghan Winters, an associate professor in Simon Fraser University’s health sciences department, said in an email that it will take “rapid and bold” actions by cities to encourage people to use more sustainable modes.
“Otherwise we can certainly expect that vehicle volumes, and congestion, will rapidly worsen in the region through the fall,” Winters said.