Core Business Areas

Transportation Improvements

Managing and improving the province's transportation network requires careful planning, monitoring and direction, looking decades into the future. The ministry must ensure that the most pressing transportation needs in British Columbia are addressed first, so that the public's investment in transportation can bring as many benefits as possible. The Minister relies on advice of eight independent Regional Transportation Advisory Committees across the province to identify and prioritize transportation projects.

Road widening construction north of Prince George

The ministry's work in this core business area includes:

Transportation Policy and Legislation

Transportation Policy and Legislation staff provides guidance on new ministry policies and legislation relating to transportation and highways.

Planning, Engineering and Construction

Activities in this area include:

• transportation planning;
• development and monitoring of the ministry's capital program, which identifies new roads and bridges to be built;
• development of investment strategies, which are ways to address the public's transportation needs within available funding;
• direction and management of projects;
• quality management;
• engineering, survey and design;
• property acquisition for provincial highways;
• construction of provincial highways; and
• management of accesses, intersections and other connections to provincial highways.

Partnerships

Partnerships' staff works to reduce the cost of new highway facilities to taxpayers by:

• developing cost-sharing and alternative delivery partnerships with the private sector and other levels of government; and
• making efficient use of property under the ministry's jurisdiction, which may involve selling surplus property or exchanging it for highway construction services.

Public Transportation

Public transit and coastal ferry services are vital to the economic and social health of many communities. Public transit consists of passenger transportation services, including services to the disabled, in various communities around the province. Coastal ferry services are an extension of the highway system, connecting islands on the B.C. coast with other islands and the mainland.

The provincial government supports public transportation services around the province with annual transfers of capital and/or operating funding to BC Transit, Rapid Transit Project 2000 and British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. The Public Transportation business area manages these transfers, and the associated amortization and debt servicing expenditures.

The province is also contributing funding through the BC Transportation Financing Authority to the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver (RAV) Rapid Transit Project, which will be led by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) and cost shared with the federal government, the Vancouver International Airport Authority and a private builder/operator.

Highway Operations

Highway Operations staff keeps our existing highway network safe, reliable and in good repair. The ministry's highway operations are divided by geographic area into three regions: South Coast, Southern Interior and Northern. Each region is subdivided into districts and maintenance areas for more efficient administration.

The ministry's work in this core business area includes:

Maintenance and Traffic Operations

Activities in this area include:

• establishing and monitoring road and bridge maintenance contracts;
• regional and district operations;
• pavement marking;
• electrical maintenance;
• avalanche control; and
• rock slope stabilization.

Asset Preservation

Activities in this area include:

• road and bridge surfacing;
• bridge rehabilitation and replacement;
• safety improvements;
• minor betterments, such as guardrails; and
• weigh scale operations to ensure that heavy vehicles do not damage public roads.

Inland Ferries

The ministry either directly provides or contracts for ferry services on 14 fresh water routes to connect provincial highways.

Coquihalla Toll Administration

The ministry operates the toll booths on the Coquihalla Highway. Toll revenue goes into the provincial government's consolidated revenue fund, which is used to fund various government programs including the maintenance of the Coquihalla and other highways.

Motor Carrier Regulation

The ministry regulates the motor carrier industry to ensure public safety and a healthy industry. Motor carriers include commercial buses and taxis. This business area encompasses two operational units:

Motor Carrier Commission (MCC)

The commission is an independent body that regulates the province's commercial passenger industry pursuant to the Motor Carrier Act. The commission also issues licenses for the interprovincial and international road transport of passengers, by delegation, under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act (Canada).

Motor Carrier Branch

This branch is the administrative arm of the MCC. It carries out investigations associated with motor carrier license applications. Working with other agencies, the branch participates in compliance activities such as:

• road checks;
• the investigation of complaints; and
• random audits of the records of licensed motor carriers.

Executive and Support Services

This business area supports all ministry programs, through:

• the minister's and deputy minister's offices;
• service planning, reporting and performance measurement;
• financial and administrative services;
• human resources;
• facilities management;
• information systems; and
• freedom of information, protection of privacy and records management.