Westwood Street Rail Crossing Improvements Project

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority completed studies and early design work to separate road and rail at two crossings along Westwood Street. These upgrades were identified as a priority through a collaborative planning process by the port authority, Transport Canada, TransLink, B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.  

The project included: 

• Studies and early design work for a possible underpass to separate road and rail on Westwood Street near Davies Avenue 
• Studies and early design work for a possible underpass or overpass to separate road and rail on Westwood Street at Kingsway Avenue 

Project location

What design concepts did the project explore? 

Westwood crossing near Davies Avenue 

We completed studies and early design work for a possible Westwood Street underpass to cross the rail line near Davies Avenue. Rather than explore multiple design options, we started with an underpass concept as it best fit the conditions of the existing neighbourhood. This design concept included a bridge for rail traffic and vehicle traffic would pass underneath. The existing four lanes on Westwood Street would be maintained and there is space for an additional rail track if needed in the future, benefiting trade and the local community. To improve active transportation connections in the area, the design includes a multi-use path on both sides of the underpass.  

Westwood Street crossing today

Westwood Street Crossing at Kingsway Avenue 

We completed studies and early design work for a possible underpass or overpass to cross the rail line at Kingsway Avenue. Starting with 12 potential design options, project partners determined that four of those options warranted further investigation. We compared each of the four options to the base case of “do nothing” looking at the following factors: financial, mobility and safety, social and community, and environmental. We learned that some options could improve mobility and safety, but none could be achieved without significant costs and challenging tradeoffs like environmental and community impacts. In the end, we did not identify an option that would offer considerable advantage over the base case of “do nothing”. 

Kingsway Avenue crossing today

What’s next? 

Advancing this project to the detailed design and construction phase is subject to securing additional funding. Should the project advance, we will keep the public informed of any public engagement opportunities. 

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. If constructed, the expected 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 local supply-chain job opportunities through Canada’s growing trade needs
	Reduced train noise by separating rail crossings to reduce train noise		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 into landscaping plans

Improved connections for walking and cycling by enhancing pedestrian walkways at rail crossings

Timeline

• 2017 – Funding application was submitted to the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund 
• 2018 – The Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund grants funding for studies and design planning of crossings
• 2020 – Background studies and concept design development
• 2020-2021 – Preliminary design 
• 2021 – Study project complete

Project partners

Throughout the study project, the port authority collaborated with municipalities in the area, including the City of Port Coquitlam, and Canadian Pacific (CP) to ensure their needs and interests were considered in project planning. 

 

Public engagement Project documents

 

Funding Partners

The study project was funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, the port authority, and CP.

The project is part of Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030