Ministry Overview and Core Business Areas

Ministry Overview

The Ministry of Transportation plans transportation networks, provides transportation services, develops and implements transportation policies, and administers many transportation-related acts and regulations.

To accomplish its mandate, the ministry:

• Develops provincial transportation plans to integrate various modes of transportation, in consultation with Regional Transportation Advisory Committees and in cooperation with the transportation-related Crown corporations;
• Ensures British Columbia's ports and airports are gateways for economic growth and development;
• Builds highways to fulfill the economic and social needs of British Columbians;
• Maintains existing highways to a high standard through contracts with privately-owned road maintenance providers;
• Undertakes vehicle safety inspections and sets commercial vehicle operating standards;
• Works with partners and other levels of government to provide effective cost-effective public transit and coastal ferry services;
• Manages contracts for inland ferry operations; and
• Licenses and regulates commercial bus and taxi services through the Passenger Transportation Board.

Legislation governing the ministry's activities can be found on the ministry website at: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/key_initiatives/legislation/statutes.htm.

Ministry Core Business Areas

Ministry responsibilities fall into five major categories:

1. Transportation Improvements

Managing and improving the province's transportation network requires careful planning, monitoring and direction, looking decades into the future. The ministry ensures 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 the advice of eight independent Regional Transportation Advisory Committees across the province to identify and prioritize transportation projects.

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

• Transportation Policy and Legislation;
• Planning, Engineering and Construction;
• Partnerships; and
• Port and Airport Development.

2. Public Transportation

The provincial government provides support to public transit and ferry services across the province. These services are vital to the economic and social health of many communities.

BC Transit and Rapid Transit Project 2000 are supported by annual transfers of capital and/or operating funding. This funding also supports transportation services for the disabled.

Public transit in Greater Vancouver is funded through dedicated tax revenues provided to TransLink (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority), which is responsible for public transit in the region.

The Province pays the private company BC Ferry Services Inc. performance-based service fees for coastal ferry services. Many island and coastal communities rely on these connections to the rest of the province.

The provincial government is also providing significant financial support to two new rapid transit lines in the Lower Mainland: the Richmond-Airport-Vancouver Rapid Transit Project (RAV) and the proposed SkyTrain extension to Coquitlam.

3. Highway Operations

Highway Operations keeps British Columbia's transportation network safe, reliable and in good repair in some of Canada's most challenging terrain.

Highway Operations is the ministry's front line — regional and district staff provide customer service by working directly with the public, local governments, First Nations, and ministry contractors.

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

• Maintenance, Asset Preservation and Traffic Operations;
• Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement;
• Inland Ferries; and
• Coquihalla Toll Administration.

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. Highway maintenance is carried out by 28 contract areas throughout the province. Ministry staff manages the maintenance contracts and works closely with the maintenance contractors to ensure they meet ministry standards. Timely rehabilitation prevents more costly repairs in the future. Highway operations determines where investment would do the most good, resurfaces roads and bridges, replaces bridges at the end of their service life, and performs other work to extend the life of the transportation network.

The ministry establishes and maintains effective and safe vehicle operating and equipment standards, and monitors application of these standards through the following programs: Vehicle Inspections, Dangerous Goods, National Safety Code, Commercial Transport, and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

Freshwater ferries are a crucial part of daily life for many communities. The ministry provides inland ferry services on 14 fresh water routes.

4. Passenger Transportation Regulation

The ministry regulates the passenger transportation industry to ensure adequate access to commercial public transportation (excluding public transit), public safety and a healthy economy.

This business area encompasses two operational units:

• Passenger Transportation Board (http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/ptb/), and
• Passenger Transportation Branch.

5. Executive and Support Services

This business area supports all ministry programs, through such core functions as service planning, reporting and performance measurement; human resources; information systems; and financial and administrative services.

Crown Corporations

The Minister of Transportation is responsible for the following Crown corporations:

BC Transportation Financing Authority

The BC Transportation Financing Authority (BCTFA) is a provincial Crown corporation continued under the Transportation Act. It owns provincial highways and provides for their rehabilitation and expansion through dedicated fuel taxes and other revenues. The BCTFA can also acquire, hold, construct, or improve other transportation infrastructure throughout British Columbia.

BC Transit (http://www.bctransit.com)

Rapid Transit Project 2000 (http://www.rapidtransit.bc.ca)

British Columbia Railway Company (http://www.bcrproperties.com/bcrco/index.html)