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.   

With project costs currently more than triple the original estimate, additional funding must be secured for the Harris Road project to proceed to further design and construction. The port authority continues to believe the project brings significant benefits to the community of Pitt Meadows and is hopeful the Harris Road crossing – identified in the top 500 highest risk railway crossings in Canada – can be delivered in the future. We continue to support advocacy efforts to pursue additional funding and are committed to exploring how we can support the project delivery in the future.  

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 First Nations 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 separate crossing at the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) main rail crossing at Harris Road 
• A new two-lane overpass on Kennedy Road over the main rail line entrance to CPKC’s Vancouver Intermodal Facility—Paused  

CPKC is leading the following rail components:

•  A new siding track along side 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 towards Golden Ears Way 

Project partners

Successfully delivering this project will require strong collaboration with the City of Pitt Meadows, local First Nations, and CPKC, 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 collaborating with the City of Pitt Meadows, CPKC, and First Nations. The port authority is partially funding the project and to date has undertaken technical studies, led community engagement, and collaborated on project design.

CPKC
CPKC owns and operates the Vancouver Intermodal Facility located in Pitt Meadows. CPKC is partially funding the project and is leading the extension of the existing track leading to and through the Vancouver Intermodal Facility.  

This project does not include CPKC’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 has been working closely with the port authority and CPKC 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.

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