Let's hope there's more to last Friday's announcement than just the actions of a desperate premier.
You would think the idea of replacing the George Massey Tunnel would be huge news, worthy of its own press conference and photo op, yet this major initiative was included as just one component of Christy Clark's wideranging speech to the province's civic politicians at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria.
Add in the fact there were no cost estimates, no timeline, not even the type of crossing planned to span the south arm of the Fraser River, and you begin to wonder whether there's much to this announcement or did Clark simply pull this one out of her back pocket in an attempt to boost flagging public opinion poll numbers?
The province's press release certainly suggests a project in its infancy, including phrases such as "engaging local governments in initial discussions" and "immediately begin planning and project development to establish a concept and scope for replacement of the George Massey Tunnel."
I guess the process has to start somewhere, but it's hard not to get the feeling the replacement of the 53-year-old tube is in the embryonic stage, a point at which most such undertakings don't yet see the light of day.
The NDP immediately called tunnel replacement, four-laning of the TransCanada Highway and other infrastructure projects Clark announced last Friday an "unfunded wish list," which doesn't appear to be too far off the mark.
If you take the glass half full approach, and assume every transportation improvement has to start somewhere, then the premier's announcement is most definitely welcomed. After years and years of complaining about the constant gridlock, a situation that will only get worse thanks to a multitude of development projects now in the works in these parts, there's finally some hope for beleaguered commuters.
Despite the daily bottleneck, and lobbying efforts to address it by Delta and others, Victoria had done its best to ignore the tunnel. The fact it's now willing to recognize the problem and begin the process to rectify it has to be considered good news.
Whether Clark will be around to carry it out is another matter, but whatever you make of her announcement, the bottom line is we're better off today than we were at this time last week.
It's hard to say know what will come of this, but there's finally some light at the end of the tunnel.
