Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is leading the Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvement project that proposes to eliminate the rail crossings at Harris Road and Kennedy Road. Pitt Meadows is home to two of the busiest rail crossings in the lower mainland.

The port authority wants to reduce bottlenecks in the Lower Mainland – not only for cargo carriers, but for local communities as well.

Harris Road underpass

The Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project would separate road and rail traffic at Harris Road. This will make local commutes faster and safer, improve community connections through more reliable traffic flow and improve emergency response times.  

Currently, the rail crossing on Harris Road can be blocked for an average of three minutes during a single train crossing, with up to 40 rail crossings on a given weekday. It was identified in the Top 500 highest risk railway crossings in Canada. 

The port authority is prioritizing work for the Harris Road rail crossing, based on what we heard is important for the City of Pitt Meadows and the community.

 

Project benefits

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

Benefits of this project include:

	Improved public safety by reducing the risk of collisions between trains and people walking, cycling, and driving		Reduced congestion by improving mobility for local residents
	Better emergency response for police, firefighters, and ambulance to get to incidents faster and more easily		Reduced emissions and energy consumption by eliminating vehicle wait times at train crossings
	More reliable commute times by removing rail crossing delays		Increased job opportunities  through Canada’s growing trade needs
	Accommodating trade growth by 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 by adding Indigenous cultural recognition, public art, and native species in landscaping plans

Improved connections for walking and cycling Enhance walking and cycling facilities associated with the crossings.

Project overview

The project includes: 

• A new four-lane underpass below the CP main rail crossing at Harris Road 
• A new two-lane overpass on Kennedy Road over the main rail line entrance to CP’s Vancouver Intermodal Facility  

CP is leading the following rail components:

•  A new siding track on the north side of the existing tracks between Harris Road and Kennedy Road
• An extension of the existing lead track accessing the Vancouver Intermodal Facility east across Harris Road

The port authority is consulting with Indigenous groups, municipalities, and other stakeholders as we conduct technical studies and community engagement, advance project design, and plan for project construction. 

Project partners

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
As the lead agency on this project, the port authority is collaborating with the City of Pitt Meadows, CP, and Indigenous groups. The port authority is partially funding the project, undertaking technical studies, leading community engagement, and collaborating on project design. The port authority will also oversee project construction. 

CP

CP owns and operates the Vancouver Intermodal Facility located in Pitt Meadows. CP will lead the extension of the existing track leading to the Vancouver Intermodal Facility. They are also providing project funding.  

This project does not include CP’s proposed Logistics Park: Vancouver, proposed for south of the Vancouver Intermodal Facility. The port authority is not responsible for communications surrounding the logistics park as it is not part of the Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project.

City of Pitt Meadows
The City of Pitt Meadows is working closely with the port authority and CP to ensure the project meets the needs of the community – including improved safety, enhanced access and connections, reduced travel times for road users, and better emergency response. They are working with project partners to explore feasible noise and vibration mitigation options, long-term effects on traffic and changes to the character of the community. The City is also working closely with the Pitt Meadows Heritage and Museum Society to find suitable locations for the Hoffmann and Son Machine Shop and the General Store Heritage buildings. 

Timeline

The below timeline shows historical events as well as the project’s anticipated timeline.

• 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 
• July 7-28, 2020 – Phase two engagement, part one for the Kennedy Road overpass 
• Spring 2021 – Update on the noise and vibration study and rail component of the project led by CP 
• Fall 2021 – Update on alignment of Harris Road underpass, heritage building relocations, opinion research, and noise and vibration mitigation  
• 2021 – Project partnering agreement with the City of Pitt Meadows approved 
• Spring 2022 – Phase three engagement: Harris Road underpass 
• Late 2022 – Final agreement and approval of design and construction plan between the port authority, CP, and City of Pitt Meadows 
• Late 2022 – Final design update: Harris Road underpass 
• 2023 – Final project approval 
• 2023 – Construction begins 
• 2026 – Project completion 

Timelines are subject to change

Public engagement Project documents and resources

Funding partners

This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, the port authority, and CP.

Part of Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030