A proposed Highway 91 interchange will do little but serve a port that no longer pays taxes to the city, a veteran councillor charged this week.

"This is entirely for the port, it has nothing to do with the City of Richmond," said Coun. Harold Steves.

Richmond East MLA Linda Reid last week urged the city to ante up cash for a new interchange at Nelson Road. The $26.9-million project, largely funded by senior governments, is $3 million short, and Richmond council has already turned down a request to pay the difference.

Steves said the design proposed by the province is for a level crossing at Westminster Highway, instead of the city's preference of a raised roadway.

That, he said, would continue to give the expected truck volume of 3,100 easy access to East Richmond farmland.

"We don't want a level crossing. A level crossing opens up the entire frontage of the Gilmore farm and any other land that they want to access when they develop."

The port now owns the 200-acre (81-hectare) Gilmore farm, but has said it has yet to make plans to use it.

Steves maintains the province wants to build a new bridge over the South Arm of the Fraser at No. 8 Road, and the new interchange is needed to facilitate it.

"Everything to build this new crossing is falling into place," he said. "It would destroy East Richmond farmland."

Steves also said Port Metro Vancouver owes Richmond $2 million in back taxes. Although the federal agency isn't required to pay tax, the previous port entity used to pay a grant to the city in lieu of taxes.

"Why would we accept $2 million in federal downloading and then give them $3 million for a level crossing we don't want?"

A call to Port Metro Vancouver was not returned by press time.

Last week Linda Reid told the Review the project would be a boost for the B.C. economy and is important for the safety of residents who live along Westminster Highway.

The project must be completed by March 31, 2011 to qualify for federal infrastructure stimulus money. Reid said that means $3 million must be found before Christmas for it to be built under the program.