Okanagan Lake Second Crossing
Engagement Summary
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has invited public feedback as part of an transportation planning study for the Central Okanagan. The ministry has also collected and considered input from local governments, First Nations, environmental stakeholders and other stakeholder groups.
The Central Okanagan Planning Study is examining the Central Okanagan to understand and explore the transportation needs of the area. The study is investigating route options including preferred locations for a potential future alternate lake crossing and possible timing for future project planning purposes.
Your input has been helping determine the collective interests that need to be considered in developing requirements and potential options for future transportation improvements in the Central Okanagan. The ministry is considering input from this consultation along with existing provincial plans, technical data and local government input as it works to develop the picture of future needs for discussion and further public consultation.
Work to date has considered:
- The performance of the corridor, including congestion and safety factors
- Travel patterns, the role and function of the Highway 97 corridor and the W.R. Bennett Bridge
- The needs of all users, including car drivers, goods movers, transit riders, carpoolers, cyclists and pedestrians
- Connection to and support for local, regional, provincial and national growth and transportation plans
- Trends in population, economic development, land use, sustainability initiatives, community livability, traffic and travel modes in the
- Central Okanagan
- Your experience with respect to all of the above
- Future transportation needs
- Possible improvement options for the long and near-to-intermediate term
- Your input
To date, the Central Okanagan Planning Study has completed:
- A review and analysis of the existing conditions and performance of the Highway 97 corridor, with results shared with the public for feedback in May 2015
- A forecast of anticipated future conditions to assess the future transportation needs of the corridor, which reflected additional public input received in November 2015
- A range of preliminary concepts for improvements to the corridor, including possible alternate routes, shared with the public for feedback in March 2017
- A reduced study area for a possible second crossing of Okanagan Lake, also shared with the public for feedback in March 2017
Timeframe:
Total project timeframe: May 19, 2015 – July 24, 2018
Spring 2015 Engagement: May 19 – June 1, 2015
Fall 2015 Engagement: November 30 – December 31, 2015
Spring 2017 Engagement: March 2017
Input received:
- 2311 total online comments received
- 718 total completed feedback forms
- 1,065 participants total attended 7 open houses
Spring 2015 Engagement:
- 197 people attended 2 public open houses
- 223 completed feedback forms
The Spring 2015 public engagement summary report can be found here.
Fall 2015 Engagement:
- 253 people attended 2 public open houses
- 267 completed feedback forms
The Fall 2015 public engagement summary report can be found here.
Spring 2017 Engagement:
- 615 people attended 3 public open houses
- 228 completed feedback forms
The Spring 2017 public engagement summary report can be found here.
Input leads to action:
The study team is working with the Local Governments, First Nations and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan to ensure that provincial, regional and local transportation plans are aligned. This work, likely to continue into early 2020, will lead to further engagement as recommendations are developed and refined.