B.C. government removes majority of board overseeing Port Mann Bridge
The Transportation Investment Corporation oversees the Port Mann, TReO and billing for the Golden Ears Bridge
Four of the five members of the Transportation Investment Corporation board, which oversees B.C.'s Port Mann Bridge, have been removed by the provincial government.
In an Order In Council formally approved on Friday, chair Daniel Doyle and directors Anne Stewart, Clifford Neufeld and former finance minister Colin Hansen had their appointments rescinded.
Irene Kerr, the current president and CEO of TI Corp, has been appointed a board member until the end of 2018, so that the board has a quorum, according to the government.
TI Corp was created by the government in 2008 to oversee the construction of the $3 billion Port Mann Bridge and oversees tolling for it and the Golden Ears Bridge.
- New Port Mann Bridge toll puts pressure on Pattullo traffic
- Port Mann continues to lose money but officials say bridge still on track to pay for itself
Since opening, traffic on the bridge has consistently missed projections, and the 2017 B.C. budget projected the Port Mann would lose $88 million in 2016-17 and $90 million in 2017-18.
In the mandate letter issued for this year by the previous Liberal government, the TI Corp board was also asked to support "the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (the Ministry) on the implementation of the George Massey Tunnel Replacement (GMTR) Project" — the future of which is unknown under the new NDP government.
The government, which has also promised the removal of tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears bridges, said it would provide more information on the changes to TI Corp later today.
In a statement, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena thanked the departed members for their service.