Committee to plan transportation infrastructure in Alberta Oil Sands

A new advisory body is to review and make recommendations to the Alberta government on the transportation needs for the Athabasca oil sands region.

The committee is to meet four times a year and “provide strategic advice and recommendations on transportation planning, design, funding, construction, operations and maintenance.” It will take into account all types of road, as well as transit, rail and air traffic within the area.

Named the Athabasca Oil Sands Area Transportation Coordinating Committee, it will have representatives from municipalities such as Wood Buffalo, the Oil Sands Developers Group, the Alberta Government and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority.  It will be chaired by Heather Kennedy, Suncor Energy’s Vice President. No representatives of consulting engineering companies are listed in the initial membership committee.

Alberta Minister of Transportation Ray Daynluk said: “This is about working together to meet the transportation needs of the local community. By involving all the partners, the future transportation plans for the area will truly reflect the needs of the region, industry and municipalities.”