Abstract Manager

Like many places in Canada, Metro Vancouver has a complex jurisdictional landscape. There are 23 local agencies with authority over roadways in their jurisdiction; in some cases roadways are divided along the centerline, with each half belonging to a different municipality. Beyond the local road authorities, the province owns and operates a highway network and other roadways in the region, while there are also roadways under federal jurisdiction. The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) is responsible for the regional movement of people and goods but has limited authority over the road network. This jurisdictional complexity created a confusing and cumbersome process for the permitting of oversize and overweight vehicles and / or loads in the region.

In 2017 the Regional Goods Movement Strategy (RGMS) identified harmonizing truck permitting and regulations as a regional implementation priority. At the time, commercial vehicle policy, including the definition of a truck, specifications for legal vehicles, permit conditions for oversize-overweight vehicles and / or loads, and enforcement varied broadly across the region. Stakeholders reported low levels of understanding – and reviewing permitting data revealed very low compliance. TransLink took regional leadership in bringing all parties together to work towards harmonization, with major milestones achieved in 2022 and 2023.

The process of working towards regional harmonization of truck permitting and regulations in Metro Vancouver offers lessons to any policy path encumbered with multi-jurisdictional complexity. Key components of success included a champion agency with sufficient resources to advance the conversation, a regional working group with practical knowledge and experience, strong connections to informed decision makers, and a building-block approach. The presentation will focus on the successes, challenges, and lessons learned that led to harmonization of truck weights and dimensions and the soft launch of a permitting, policies, and procedures manual for oversize-overweight vehicles and / or loads in Metro Vancouver.