Conclusions

In this feature, we have highlighted some of the steps the City of Quesnel has undertaken to improve its citizens' transportation options, primarily to help increase the quality of its urban air.

The main points of its approach have been to:

Develop a long term urban planning vision that will ensure that its transportation situation will slowly improve;
Consider the use of 'neo-traditional planning principles' to help make walking and cycling more pleasant and therefore more realistic;
Instigate a program of road and trail building to offer people some alternative transportation options as well as improving urban liveability;
Take a proactive role in its relationship with BC Transit by alerting it to changes in local transit needs.

Quesnel's portfolio of transportation strategies is by no means comprehensive -- further ideas for improving the prospects of public transportation can be found throughout this website. However, this is a good example of an effective portfolio of initiatives for a community of this size and situation. The strategies outlined here include straightforward, common sense ideas that can be undertaken without placing an overly onerous burden on Council, planners, developers or local residents and businesses. They include simple incremental steps toward long-term solutions for transportation and air quality problems.

Clearly, there is no 'magic bullet' for solving transportation problems, nor a template that can be applied in all communities. For Quesnel, long term solutions will come from integrating a diversity of approaches in mini-steps, and responding over time to the emerging benefits of increasing urban density and mixes of use. As Councillor Mike Doyle puts it, "When I was first assigned my responsibilities [environment, transport, trails and employment], they appeared diverse and unrelated. But the more I looked into the environmental, economic and social issues, I could see they were all interlinked".

The ideas presented in this feature are summarized below:

Develop a "very long term" urban planning vision;
Inoculate the vision against short term political change by developing it with broad stakeholder participation and OCP revisions;
Offer developers incentives to help realize the vision;
Work persistently towards a more compact and mixed use urban infrastructure;
Adopt the "five minute rule" to attract pedestrian use;
Ensure that bicycle and pedestrian commuting routes are as practical, safe and pleasant as possible;
Work with local employers and BC Transit to consider "green' commuting options;
Develop a proactive relationship with BC Transit and help it keep abreast of relevant changes in local target markets;

Above all, take responsibility for your own air quality. Even if the major factors affecting local air quality are effectively beyond your influence, taking what steps you can is an important act of leadership, and may have many long term livability benefits.