Thursday could be a big day for the Tsimshian Access project

Mayor Jack Mussallem will be waiting patiently for word this Thursday that the Federal government is going to help move the Tsimshian Access project forward.

On that day, the city may be in receipt of 15 million dollars, a federal contribution towards further study about the feasibility of the much discussed link between Prince Rupert and its First Nation neighbours in Metlakatla and Lax Kw'alaams.

The bridge and ferry combination is the latest incarnation of the long held plan to provide better access to Digby Islands airport and beyond, with a number of changes to the original plan to come down the road over the years.

Thursday may mark yet another twist in that road, but one which actually may bring the project closer to fruition than at any time in recent history.

The Daily News had details on the funding quest in Monday's paper.

FUNDING SOURCE IS IN ‘HOPEFUL’ PHASE
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, July 6, 2009
Pages one and three

Mayor Jack Mussallem is hoping by Thursday that he will be able to accept a grant of $15 million.

That's money that he didn't expect and it might be money he can't count on.

That's because the funding, which is earmarked for the Tsimshian Access Project, is to come from the federal government's community adjustment fund, a program that is looking to inject $1 billion into communities with economic needs created by the global recession. It was a fund that up until two weeks ago, the Mayor thought Prince Rupert was unable to access.

But that has changed and Mussallem is hoping that with the eligibility shift the federal governments will provide Prince Rupert with more than enough money to get the project started.

"It's a good portion of the money needed," said Mussallem.

The advantages, explained Mussallem, were not only for Prince Rupert. It would also help the outlying Coast Tsimshian villages that have struggled economically in part because of their isolation from services and infrastructure.

By having a road access to Digby Island via a bridge, and then accessing Kaien Island via improved ferry service and an adjusted dock between Crippin Cove and Dodge Cove, it is hoped that the TAP would deliver more than a few other benefits.

Mussallem foresees that improved ferry access would open up residents to Digby Island beaches on the south side of the island.

It could also improve chances for distribution services attached to the airport, which would entail temporary construction jobs and then permanent warehousing jobs.

It's a vision that the mayor anticipates coming true through the building of the road.

"We'd like to work on that project as soon as possible. There are some serious health and service concerns for the outlying villages and [the TAP] would help facilitate the growth of these communities," said Mussallem.

One consideration that might need to be included in any TAP plans would be the Lax Kw'alaams band council's plan to move forward on Arrow Point, which is currently under an environmental review.

Lax Kw'alaams band council plan to build an improved ferry terminal there for their residents in an attempt to improve their access to Prince Rupert.

Mussallem didn't think that was a huge problem because both Coast Tsimshian communities, Lax Kw' alaams and Metlakatla, are committed publicly and financially to the project. Both communities have offered up $50,000 each for the current plan, while Prince Rupert and the provincial government have each pony upped $100,000.

Quest for pavement could result in homecomings

The long desired Tsimshian Access Project is more than just a little pavement and gravel base, for Metlakatla it may be the answer to bringing home former residents, a move that could help the village to grow and solidify it's infrastructure needs.

It's one of the spin off effects that no doubt will be highlighted to different levels of government as Metlakatla and Port Simpson seek to move the project from the proposal stage to the construction phase.

The Daily News featured the view on the project from Metlakatla as the front page headline story in Tuesday's paper.

ROAD TO METLAKATLA AND PORT SIMPSON SUPPORTED
Metlakatla's elected chief hopes proposed project will get off the drawing board
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Pages one and two

Metlakatla elected chief Harold Leighton said he was happy that the province has agreed to update studies on the Tsimshian Access Project (TAP).

And he hoped that if the possible TAP goes ahead, members of the Metlakatla community would return home to live in the village.

"Our community has always been committed to the Tsimshian Access Project," said Leighton.

"Probably there would be an increase of our members moving back which would support the overall operation of the community in terms of governmental services and infrastructure construction."

Leighton was reacting to last week's announcement that the Tsimshian Access Project would go ahead with an updated feasibility study.

He estimated that, right now, there are 800 members of the Metlakatla community, with about 100-to-150 people living on the peninsular village just north of Prince Rupert.

According to Leighton, a better connection would immediately double the population in the village, because there would then be easier access to Prince Rupert services, meaning some would leave Prince Rupert in favour of living in Metlakatla but would be able to continue to work here.

And that would be OK, because the community has recently upgraded the sewer system and would be ready to take on the additions.

It is expected that with a greater road connectivity, the area would see a bigger boost in long-term services and Leighton seemed to believe that the better connection would make the region a stronger player on the provincial economic scene.

The much-discussed project would link the communities of Prince Rupert, Port Simpson and Metlakatla together to form a much more accessible North Coast region, allowing people in the outlying villages the opportunity to work in Prince Rupert but live at home.

A significant change to the project is the termination of the idea of a suspension bridge from Prince Rupert to Digby Island.

In the past, the provincial government has had reservations about the feasibility of such a construction plan, wondering how it would work.

The bridge now appears to be off the table with the focus now on a better ferry service from both Kaien Island and Digby Island by bringing the Digby dock closer to Rupert.

However, there would need to be a bridge from Metlakatla to Digby, giving those living in the village much quicker access to the airport.

Leighton thinks that if the plan finally gets that approval, his community's economy would improve drastically.

"It would benefit Metlakatla in terms of cost for health and education and all the related services looking at reduced costs.

"We may see a lot of opportunity on the economic side," added Leighton.

Among the opportunities, Leighton said that the access project would bring job opportunities through road construction and job training.

Hey what happened to the bridge idea?

The City of Prince Rupert is about to begin the process of exploring the potential for road access to Lax Kw'alaams, but don't go looking for a bridge any time soon.

While long time dream of a majestic bridge to cross Prince Rupert harbour may still quicken the hearts of some local politicians, the more likely scenario in the short term will be a redesigned and relocated ferry dock on the Digby Island side (and eventually a new ferry to dock at it), that at least seems to be the prospect as outlined by Mayor Jack Mussallem.

The Mayor and City Public Works and Engineering General Manager Bob Thompson outlined the latest revision to the access project plans, which would see a short bridge between Metlakatla and Digby Island and then improved Ferry Service between Digby and Prince Rupert.

That's a move that will surprise some of the local bridge boosters, who have long sought out a fixed link between the city and it's airport and beyond up to Lax Kw'alaams. Those that are in favour of the bridge concept will no doubt outline the cost of a bridge, compared to the ongoing expense of staffing and maintaining a civic owned ferry, all be it with an apparent new mandate should the latest idea come to pass.

The feasibility study into the latest new direction in access is expected to be completed by September, while that study goes on the bridge debate may find new life during the upcoming provincial election, which will see former Mayor and access proponent Herb Pond challenging incumbent MLA Gary Coons.

It will be with interest for the community to learn of the candidates impressions on the latest turn of the ongoing debate into a connection to Digby Island and beyond.

City paves way to Lax Kw’alaams
By George T. Baker

The Daily News
Friday, February 6, 2009

Page two

The city is moving forward with its goal of beginning the Tsimshian Peninsula Access Project.

Both Mayor Jack Mussallem and General Manager of Engineering and Public works Bob Thompson have confirmed that a project feasibility study will be underway soon and said they expect it to be complete by September.

Mussallem has made it clear since he announced his candidacy for mayor that this was his infrastructure planning priority number dne.

During the past decade, there have been 13 studies at a cost of $1 million commissioned for the project but t.he province has not guaranteed any action yet. Yesterday's announcement does not mean a guarantee that the project will see shovels hit the ground soon but it does bring it closer to a reality. The old plans included having a long suspension bridge stretching across the harbour and near Dodge Cove but those plans have been thrown out in favour of a shorter bridge from Metlakatla to Digby Island and better ferry service from Kaien Island to Digby Island.

"Down the road, the city will be looking at purchasing a new ferry boat for service but for right now we are looking at bringing the ferry dock on Digby Island closer to Prince Rupert," said Thompson.

Under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOUl. tbe communities of Metlakatla, Lax Kw'alaams, Prince Rupert and the District of Port Edward have signed on with the BC Ministry ofTransportation to undertake additional analysis, looking at the improved ferry access to Digby Island.

The cost of the study will be $310,000, with all parties contributing to study costs - the city of Prince Rupert picking up $100,000, the provincial government will pick up $100,000 and the two First Nations communities each will pick up $50,000.

For the better part of a decade, the need for the TAP has received political support from representatives including former Mayor Herb Pond and current MLA Gary Coons, who look now to be going head-to-head in the provincial election come May.