Ministry Overview and Core Business Areas

The Ministry of Transportation plans provincial transportation networks, develops and implements transportation policies, provides transportation services and administers various transportation-related acts and regulations in the road, rail, air and marine sectors.

The ministry works closely with other groups that have transportation-related responsibilities, such as the federal government, TransLink, local governments, British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. Where possible, the ministry shares the costs of projects that serve a common interest. More detail on ministry services and partners can be found at the ministry website: http://www.gov.bc.ca/tran.

Core Business Areas

Ministry responsibilities fall into five major categories:

Transportation Improvements: The ministry consults with community leaders, local governments and Regional Transportation Advisory Committees when setting priorities for transportation improvements; then contracts with private companies to design, construct and operate new infrastructure.

Public Transportation: The ministry works with partners and other levels of government to provide efficient, low-cost public transit and coastal ferry services.

Highway Operations: Through contracts with private companies, the ministry undertakes to keep highways safe, reliable and in good repair; and to operate inland ferries.

Passenger Transportation Regulation: The ministry licenses and regulates commercial bus and taxi services through the Passenger Transportation Act.

Executive and Support Services: The ministry measures its performance, provides information to the public, and gives organizational support to its front-line workers.

The Resource Summary outlines the financial and staff resources dedicated to each core business area.

The Minister of Transportation is also responsible for the following Crown corporations and board: the BC Transportation Financing Authority (BCTFA), BC Transit, BC Railway Company, Rapid Transit Project 2000 and the Passenger Transportation Board.