Master Transportation Plan & Related Policies

The Master Transportation Plan (MTP) was developed in consultation with residents of New Westminster and provides long-term direction that will guide transportation policies, priorities and investments within each element of the transportation network over the next 30 years and beyond. The MTP presents a long-term vision that supports the City’s aspirations for compact, safe and livable neighbourhoods, enabling a vibrant mixture of functions and activities.

The City’s transportation priorities, as articulated in the MTP, reflect a hierarchy of modes that are considered in decision-making. Walking, cycling and transit are at the top of the hierarchy, followed by commercial vehicles and cars.  In setting a transportation hierarchy, the City will ensure that all road users, particularly vulnerable road users, are properly considered when transportation improvements are planned.

The MTP is guided by, and supports, the aspirations of other City policies and plans, and also takes into consideration regional and provincial plans.

  • Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP)

    Sustainability Plan Envision 2032

    Official Community Plan (OCP)

    Development Zoning Bylaw

    Healthier Community Partnership (HCP)

    30km/h Speed Limit on Designated Greenways, Bikeways, and streets that don’t allow cycling on the sidewalk – May 29, 2017 (item #28, page 615)

    Speed Hump Policy (2019)

  • Following the recent Provincial announcement on new directions for transportation funding and governance in the Lower Mainland, the Pattullo Bridge Review community consultation on remaining options has been postponed and the TransLink Mayors Council has been asked to prepare a 30-year investment plan for the region. As the future of the Pattullo Bridge will have a high priority in this plan, the City considers it important that all community, regional and provincial stakeholders are aware of the City’s position.

    Current use of the Pattullo Bridge as “the free alternative” to the recently tolled Port Mann Bridge is significantly affecting the livability of New Westminster. The introduction of tolls on the Port Mann Bridge have led to a significant increase of traffic, including truck traffic, over the Pattullo bridge, on major arterial and local streets, as drivers seek to find faster ways to avoid congestion. Traffic on the bridge has increased by 6,000 trips per day and has been accompanied by a 75% growth in truck traffic on Royal Avenue. 

    Given the city’s established historic and dense urban context, it is the City’s view that a new tolled 4-lane bridge, built to urban arterial standards and incorporating excellent pedestrian and cycling facilities, would meet all of the city’s and the region’s needs. Tolls on a 4-lane bridge are essential not only to finance the new bridge, but also as an integral measure to lower demand for car travel over the bridge, and in effect, promote the use of alternative transportation modes.

    New Westminster’s position is that unnecessary money spent on the bridge would restrict the ability to fund other much needed transit projects, such as Surrey’s Light Rail Transit.  New Westminster is strongly supportive of reallocating capital cost savings of a new 4-lane bridge towards other much needed rapid transit projects that better address the needs of the region’s priorities.


    Following is the City's supporting documentation:

    Press Release:

    For more information, contact Jim Lowrie, Director of Engineering Services, at 604-527-4589 or

  • Chair: Mayor Jonathan X. Coté

    Staff/Council: Council members, city staff, outside partners

    Mandate: The purpose of the Mayor’s Task Force on Transportation is to bring strategic focus and planning for key issues that have a significant immediate and future impact on the City of New Westminster. The Mayor’s Task Forces were created in response to critical issues raised during the 2014 municipal election. The issues included transportation, housing affordability and the development of an economic health care cluster. Additionally, a Mayor’s Committee was also formed for Public Engagement.