road network has not kept pace with the evolving world
around it. What’s equally concerning is that our window of
opportunity to correct this situation is closing quickly.
Anyone who operates a successful business recognizes the
importance of understanding the changing landscape and
adopting new technologies and tools in order to stay ahead
of the competition. Alberta has been idle on transportation
policy issues for too long and we have clearly fallen behind.
ARHCA has tried for some time to get traction. We had
solid connections with the Department of Transportation
and, in the past, our organization was invited to provide
advice and direction on policies affecting our members.
Unfortunately, that relationship has eroded over the last
three years and the government has been choosing to col-laborate
less and less.
Combine this lack of consultation with a cut of $969 mil-lion
– a 25 per cent decrease – in maintenance and renewal
spending, and the road forward is bumpy at best. It’s a dis-heartening
situation that could worsen as our province tight-ens
its belt even more. If history is any indicator, when pitted
against health or education spending, transportation almost
always loses.
While funding remains a question mark, one thing we
do know is that the difficulties maintaining and enhancing
a high-quality transportation system in future years will be
compounded by rapidly changing demographics, technology
and automation. There is a lot at stake and Alberta’s current
funding approach and management practices will not suffice.
With the Alberta government seemingly on cruise con-trol,
ARHCA is hoping to take the wheel. Our association
has launched our own advocacy effort to develop forward-looking
policies that ensure Alberta’s roads are maintained
at optimal levels, funded and financed through sustainable
means, support a vibrant economic climate and enhance our
quality of life.
In November 2018, ARHCA brought together a highly
accomplished and diverse group of advisors from the public
and private sectors to form an expert advisory panel. The
Transportation Advisory Panel’s brief was to assess the current
hurdles facing road infrastructure and provide policy recom-mendations
that will support long overdue improvements.
More specifically, the panel was tasked with:
•• Examining the characteristics of the existing road
$8 Billion Alberta exports
Travel on provincial highways towards their final destination each year
ROADS = JOBS
Alberta’s economy is not a nice to have
Learn more at: www.drivingimprovement.ca Driving Improvement is a campaign of, and authorized by, the
Alberta Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association
info@arhca.ab.ca | 780-436-9860
Worth of
C E O U P D AT E
Continued on page 9
network management framework;
•• Developing a long-term transportation vision and
philosophy to support the province’s future population
and economic growth;
•• Developing alternative policies to ensure a sustainable
transportation system; and,
•• Providing direction to enable the expansion and
operation of a provincial transportation network in an
efficient and effective manner.
We also asked this knowledgeable and experienced group
to look around the globe for innovative examples and best
6 ALBERTA HEAVY 1 2019
/www.drivingimprovement.ca
link
