Parsons was the prime consultant and technical lead for the Transportation Trade Network Analysis Study (TTN), undertaken from 2016 to 2019. TTN was a BC-wide comprehensive multi-modal goods movement study. The purpose of the study was to assess the anticipated growth in goods movement through the Pacific Gateway, which generally runs east-west across the prairie provinces and through British Columbia to port facilities in Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Commodities shipped through the Pacific Gateway originate from BC through to Eastern Canada. The study was to identify issues associated with anticipated increases in demand for international trade through the gateway and develop and recommend infrastructure investments to mitigate these issues. Options focused on identifying opportunities to increase capacity, efficiency, safety, and reliability of the provincial highway and freight railway networks to enable growth in trade movements, as well as minimizing impacts to local communities associated with increasing truck and train volumes.

Through a systematic and evidence-based issues identification, option development, and option evaluation process, a total of 31 mitigation measures were recommended in 20 different locations throughout BC. The TTN study recommendations provide a basis to support the planning, partnering, funding, and development of potential transportation programs and projects.