January 2021 - Background

The Integrated Transportation and Infrastructure Master Plan is an update to White Rock’s previous transportation plan, the 2014 Strategic Transportation Plan. Fast forward six years and a lot has changed in White Rock, the region, and around the world. White Rock is now home to 21,000 people, and the population is expected to reach approximately 27,000 people by 2045. The City also has a growing number of seniors, making it crucial that White Rock is accessible for people of all ages and abilities. An update to our Official Community Plan in 2017 reflects this growth, calling for improvements to the transportation network. Meanwhile, TransLink is developing Transport2050, an updated Regional Transportation Strategy that will impact transportation across Metro Vancouver. Finally, the City has committed to taking action to address the climate emergency, supporting the Metro Vancouver Climate 2050 Strategic Framework target of creating a carbon neutral region by 2050.

Transportation contributes over half of all greenhouse gas emissions in White Rock and approximately 45 per cent region-wide, making this Master Plan critical for achieving these sustainability targets. Currently, about 80 per cent of all trips made by White Rock residents are by car, so encouraging the use of sustainable transportation modes like walking, cycling, and transit is now more important than ever. Additionally, there are a number of new and emerging transportation modes that may impact White Rock residents now, and in the future, including electric vehicles, ride hailing, bike and scooter share systems, and even autonomous vehicles. All of this must be planned for, while ensuring that private motor vehicles and trucks are still able to efficiently move people and goods. We want to create a safe, intuitive, and sustainable transportation network that allows all residents to get to where they need to go.