Media releases
Project to separate Pitt Meadows roadways from rail crossings closer to becoming a reality
Two highly anticipated rail crossing projects in Pitt Meadows are one step closer to construction today, as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority signs a formal agreement with the Government of Canada to receive $48.8 million for the project and announces its own commitment to fund $39.1 million toward the project as a partner agency.
The funding will go toward a project to separate road traffic from trains at two key crossings—Harris Road and Kennedy Road—helping improve public safety, emergency response times, and commute times, while reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions related to idling vehicles. These upgrades will help remove bottlenecks for trains, improving the flow of goods and helping accommodate growing trade.
The project includes:
- A new four-lane underpass crossing the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) main line at the location of the existing Harris Road crossing (led by the port authority)
- A new two-lane overpass crossing the CP main line at the entrance to the Vancouver Intermodal Terminal; the crossing would replace the current rail crossing at Kennedy Road (led by the port authority)
- A new rail siding track for parking trains (approximately 16,000 feet), including a new rail bridge over Katzie Slough, to support the Vancouver Intermodal Terminal (led by CP), which will accommodate growing trade while reducing train whistling noise in the community. The project is anticipated to cost $141.1 million. As a next step, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is working closely with the City of Pitt Meadows and Canadian Pacific Railway to finalize agreements for final funding and project implementation.
The port authority will also work with the City of Pitt Meadows, local Indigenous groups, and the community to identify opportunities for improvements to walking and cycling facilities and public space improvements such as Indigenous cultural recognition, public art, seating, and integration of native species in landscaping plans.
The two rail crossings and new rail siding in Pitt Meadows were identified as priorities through a collaborative planning process called the Gateway Transportation Collaboration Forum. The forum is made up of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Transport Canada, TransLink, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.
In 2018, the Government of Canada announced that this project, along with several others throughout the region, would receive funding through Transport Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund.
The first round of public engagement took place in summer 2018. Pending the finalization of agreements for the remaining funding, a second round of public engagement is anticipated in late 2019. For more information and to sign up for updates, visit www.portvancouver.com/pittmeadowsroadandrail.
Quotes:
“These projects are part of a group of projects identified in the Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 strategy that are needed to meet growing demand for import goods from Asia and Canadian exports. We recognize that supply chain initiatives beyond the port, including creating new road and rail infrastructure, help us fulfil our federal mandate to facilitate Canada’s trade objectives. Additionally, projects such as these help alleviate the impacts of growing trade on local communities, and provide the opportunity to enhance safety and improve local transportation.”
- Robin Silvester, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
“Our government is investing in Canada’s economy by making improvements to our trade and transportation corridors. We are supporting projects to efficiently move goods to market and people to their destinations, stimulate economic growth, create quality middle-class jobs, and ensure that Canada’s transportation networks remain competitive and efficient. ”
- The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport
“This important milestone represents the culmination of a great deal of work by each of the organizations over the past seven months. Rail grade separations in Pitt Meadows will mean that police, fire and ambulance services will be able to get to incidents faster and more easily. Public safety will be greatly improved. Commutes will be become more reliable and ultimately, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will find it much easier to move around our community. Council will continue to advocate for the best interests of the community as we move toward finalizing the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the project partners.”
- Mayor Bill Dingwall, City of Pitt Meadows
“Canada is a trading nation. With our new trade agreements in place, we now have access to 1.4 billion more customers. This is why our trade corridor infrastructure investments are so critical to our national and local economies. These investments will ensure that Canadians can get their goods to market efficiently and remain competitive. This is also good news for local residents as their concerns of not only traffic congestion, but the potential response time of emergency services operating around the rail crossings will also be addressed. I am thrilled to see that this project is beginning to move forward.”
- Dan Ruimy, Member of Parliament for Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge
“The Port of Vancouver creates tremendous economic activity, and provides over 96,000 good, family-supporting jobs, 700 of which are here in Pitt Meadows. This important trade corridor through the Lower Mainland connects Canada to the rest of the world, and enables the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods. I’m glad we have such a robust, reliable port to keep the province’s economy strong.”
- MLA Lisa Beare, Member of the Legislative Assembly; Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture
About the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is responsible for the stewardship of the federal port lands in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. It is financially self-sufficient and accountable to the federal minister of transport and operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. The port authority’s mandate is to facilitate Canada’s trade objectives, ensuring goods are moved safely while protecting the environment and considering local communities.
About the Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 strategy
Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 is the Gateway Transportation Collaboration Forum’s strategy for smart infrastructure investment to remove bottlenecks impeding the growth of trade, while addressing the community impacts of goods movement and population growth.
About the Gateway Transportation Collaboration Forum
The Gateway Transportation Collaboration Forum is a collaborative effort to ensure the Greater Vancouver gateway is ready to manage growing trade. It includes Transport Canada, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, TransLink and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.
About the National Trade Corridors Fund
The National Trade Corridors Fund is a $2 billion fund managed by Transport Canada. The program helps fund goods movement corridor infrastructure projects in Canada. Infrastructure projects can include work to airports, ports, rail yards, transportation facilities, and access roads. These projects improve the flow of goods and people in Canada, increase the flow of trade in and out of Canada, and help the transportation system to withstand the effects of climate change and better adapt to new technologies and innovation.
www.tc.gc.ca/en/programs-policies/programs/national-trade-corridors-fund.html
Media contact:
Danielle Jang
Media Relations Advisor
604.340.8617
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