Pitt Meadows road and rail improvements

Pitt Meadows is home to two of the busiest rail crossings in the lower mainland. The Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvement project will aim to eliminate the rail crossings at Harris Road and Kennedy Road. Currently, these crossings are blocked each day by moving trains for an average of:

  • One hour and 45 minutes at Kennedy Road
  • Three hours and 30 minutes at Harris Road

Upcoming engagement:

The first phase of public engagement is now closed.

Contact Us:

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Email: [email protected]

Our goal is to mitigate the impacts of growing rail and port trade traffic on Pitt Meadows. These changes will improve safety and community access by creating more reliable travel times and better emergency response options.

The project includes:

  • A new four-lane underpass at the Canadian Pacific (CP) main rail line crossing at Harris Road.
  • A new two-lane overpass at the main rail line entrance to CP’s Vancouver Intermodal Facility, replacing the level rail crossing at Kennedy Road.
  • An extension of one of CP’s existing rail tracks, which serves the Intermodal Facility.

The port authority is now focusing on working with Indigenous groups, municipalities and other stakeholders to undertake technical studies and engagement, advance project design and plan for project construction.

 

Photo of Harris Road today

Project benefits

The port authority has a positive track record of delivering high-quality projects based on best practices in environmental sustainability, environmental protection, and engagement. Anticipated benefits of this project include:

Improved public safety
Reduces risk of collisions between trains and people walking, cycling and driving.
Reduced congestion
Improves mobility for local residents and more efficient goods movement.
Better emergency response
Allows police, fire, and ambulance to get to incidents faster and more easily
Reduced GHG emissions
Elimination of wait times for vehicles at train crossings means reduced emissions and reduced energy requirements.
More reliable commute times
Improves reliability of roads because they will not be blocked by rail traffic.
Increased job opportunities 
Growth in trade means growth in local jobs.
Reduced noise
Separating the crossings allows for reduced noise as the bells at crossing gates will no longer be required.
Accommodating trade growth
Increasing capacity to move Canadian products to foreign markets, and foreign products to Canadian consumers, safely and more efficiently

The port authority will also work with the local community and Indigenous groups to identify opportunities for:

Public space improvements
Create public space improvements such as inclusion of Indigenous cultural recognition, public art, integration of native species in landscaping plans, etc.
Improved connections for walking and cycling
Enhance walking and cycling facilities associated with the crossings.

Project partner roles

Successfully delivering this project will require strong collaboration with the City of Pitt Meadows, local Indigenous groups, and CP, and we will be working closely with them to ensure the project addresses their particular needs.

This project has three partners:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
The port authority is providing overall project management and ensuring best practice in engagement and environmental protection.

Canadian Pacific (CP)
CP owns and operates the Vancouver Intermodal Facility located in Pitt Meadows. CP plans to extend an existing track leading into and out the Vancouver Intermodal Facility. They are providing funding to the project. Learn more about CP.

City of Pitt Meadows
The City of Pitt Meadows is collaborating with the port authority and CP to ensure the project meets the needs of the community and has agreed to owning and maintaining the Kennedy Road overpass and the public serving portions of the Harris Road underpass (not the structure supporting the rail tracks) when complete. The city is also helping to secure a new location for the Hoffmann and Son Machine Shop and the Old General Store.

Timeline

The below timeline shows historical events as well as the project’s anticipated timeline. Dates subject to change.

  • 2017 – Project submitted to the National Trade Corridors Fund for funding
  • 2018 – Early public engagement held in Pitt Meadows on the future of transportation in the city
  • 2018 – The Government of Canada grants funding to design and build the project through the National Trade Corridors Fund
  • October 21- November 22, 2019 – First phase of public engagement → (we are here)
  • Spring 2020 – Second phase of public engagement
  • TBC 2020 – Final phase of public engagement
  • 2021 – Final project approval
  • 2021 – Construction anticipated to begin
  • 2024 – Anticipated project completion

The Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project enables the City of Pitt Meadows and residents to play a role in shaping the future of their community. 

Our approach to public consultation is based on two-way communication and open dialogue, working together to ensure the community, the environment, and the economy are all considered during project planning. 

The port authority has worked closely with the City of Pitt Meadows and CPKC to progress the planning and design of the project. Thank you to everyone who has participated in engagement to date. 

Touchpoints with the community include: 

  • Fall 2019 engagement – Listen and learn 
  • Summer 2020 engagement – Kennedy Road overpass 
  • Spring 2021 update – CPKC rail configuration and noise and vibration study 
  • Fall 2021 update – New alignment of the Harris Road underpass, heritage building relocations, ongoing work on noise and vibration mitigation, and opinion research 
  • Summer 2022 engagement – Harris Road underpass 
  • Spring 2023 update Funding gap presentation and request for funding contribution 
  • Spring 2023 – CPKC issued notice of railway works

If you would like a copy of documents shared during public engagement, including reports, factsheets, discussion guides, please reach out to [email protected]

Funding partners

This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and CP. Project value $141.1 million.

Part of Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030.