Fraser Valley Regional Rail Pre-Feasibility Draft Study

Image - https://southfrasercommunityrail.ca/breaking-news-b-c-government-fraser-valley-regional-rail-pre-feasibility-draft-study/

Breaking News – B.C. Government ​– Fraser Valley Regional Rail Pre-Feasibility Draft Study

#ConnectTheValley The Fraser Valley Regional Rail Pre-Feasibility Draft Study was delivered in December 2023! The Good News: Confirmed that the study supports passenger rail transit South of the Fraser. The Bad News: Surrey and North Delta are ignored.

Image - Submitted, Proposed emissions-free hydrogen powered passenger train connecting Surrey to Chilliwack

Over the past 2 decades, supporters of the reactivation of the Interurban Corridor have spread the word of the significant benefits and rationale for this transit service in the South of Fraser Region. Since renewal of passenger rights in 2009 (Unanimous support by South of Fraser Municipalities), plus the 2017 advent of Hydrogen Rail in Germany (Canadian Technology), plus 88% public support (ResearchCo Poll), interest has grown exponentially!

Special interest corporate organizations and past government administrations produced and published contrived studies (circa 2010) like the B.C. MoT and TransLink, deliberately refuting facts the South Fraser Community Rail Society (SFCRS) had been presenting for years. All of this for parochial reasons and/or protection of their funding source (Metro Van. Centric TransLink), the studies were flawed, poorly prepared and poorly researched. ​

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This study has vindicated the SFCRS, however the study contains a number of errors that must be dealt with:
The Study Reveals the Following Facts!

• The Publicly owned Interurban Rail line with protected passenger rights is seen as a very viable and obvious choice for Interregional Passenger Transit Service for the South of Fraser Region, the Pattullo Bridge to Chilliwack. It Checks ALL the boxes!
• The publicly owned Interurban Corridor connects ALL population centers South of the Fraser, a fact previous contrived studies denied – Highway #1 does not!
• Using the Interurban Corridor protects the Agriculture Land Reserve and any incursion or threat to it; It supports Community Resiliency.
• Confirmation that over 70% of all trips starting South of the Fraser end South of the Fraser, not Vancouver – It is now closer to 80%.
• A reactivated Interurban Corridor for Interregional Transit South of the Fraser is THE most cost-effective way to provide the necessary and currently unavailable public transit to the entire region. (Not just Metro Vancouver)
• A reactivated Interurban Corridor with Interregional Transit service will help in removing some car traffic and congestion off of Highway #1. (ResearchCo Poll)
• Bus service on Highway #1 gets caught up in and impacts the congestion on Highway #1 which we are trying to eliminate, it is getting worse by the day.
  Important Additional Facts – Needed Corrections!
• For The Record - 16 kms of Langley SkyTrain est. @ $5.2 Billion ($325 million per
  km) vs 99 kms of the Interurban est. @ $1.65 Billion ($16.62 million per km)
• The inclusion of a Mission Rail Connection to the Interurban makes no sense. An Express Bus Connection - Abby to WCE Rail Hub / Hwy #11, all that is needed.
• BC Government’s new housing legislation severely exacerbates the problem, it will exponentially increase traffic on Highway #1! We are in gridlock today!
• Connects two NEW Rapid Bud Transit Routes (King George Blvd. & 200th St.)
• The original planned Study Area was POLITICALLY GERRYMANDERED to feedLangley SkyTrain, TOTALLY IGNORING SURREY and N. DELTA’s INTERREGIONAL Transit Needs – Cloverdale (NEW Hospital and KPU Trades Campus), Sullivan, Newton (and KPU Campus), Kennedy Heights, South Surrey, and White Rock.
• IT IGNORES 351,000 SURREY, North DELTA residents not served by SkyTrain, requiring two-way east to west/west to east Interregional Transit South of Fraser that would significantly benefit the South of Fraser Economy.

The study suggests this is a long-term option – Nothing could be further from the truth! Recurring Highway 1 congestion / gridlock and its long-term time frame to complete widening, ie to Sumas Way by 2035 – 12 years from now! We need Rail Transit now, not long term! Widening won’t solve the problem.

The Pre-Feasibility study has been completed and ticks all the boxes; A Feasibility Study needs to be tendered now to knowledgeable intern. rail engineering firms.

• Issues re: double tracking / track conditions are NON-ISSUES. These are conditions of maintenance and requirements within their 1988 freight use sales agreement - Southern Rail & CP Rail with B.C. Hydro/B.C. Government.
• There are NO privately owned rail lines or corridors required to service over 1.2 million residents South of the Fraser. The Interurban Corridor is cost- effective, Publicly Owned with protected passenger rights at no cost for its use.
• The study was dated July 8th, 2022, 15 months later - still not released to the public? Why? What are the next steps? The government has been silent!
  
  

​The Facts RE The Fraser Valley Regional Rail Pre-Feasibility Study: This study was an initiative of the SFCRS, first discussed with then candidate John Horgan – March 2017. Fast forward - elected minority government and then a majority election 2020. Throughout this period, we lobbied MLA (Darryl Plecas) and through him, the Premier’s Office. The announcement of this study was made in the Throne Speech of 2020. On the heels of that announcement the SFCRS was requested to meet with the study consulting team. A 3-hour meeting followed in Langley with volumes of factual information provided. SFCRS was identified as a “Key Stakeholder” by government (their words not ours).

With NO government Budget for meeting - SFCRS funded $1,000+ for this government presentation.

Recap - The SFCRS through 2 decades of investigation and community involvement made the case to Premier John Horgan for a study to prove our point; the study was announced, volumes of information provided in a meeting they requested and WE PAID FOR! The study was released July 8th, 2022, we were not advised and yet through two rounds of post-study engagement from Key Stakeholders, we were not asked for any response or input despite the fact we were considered “Key Stakeholders” (The government’s words not ours) at the outset of the study.

Stakeholders who provided input were listed, but NOT the SFCR Society who were key to this study being implemented in the first place, providing volumes of primary information. This is insulting and disrespectful to thousands of supporters South of the Fraser!

Our ask of Government – This is a DRAFT study? We are asking for an in-depth meeting with Minister Fleming and staff for a post-study engagement as an identified “KEY Stakeholder”. We have asked for a “one-hour meeting” with Minister and staff for six months, only to be rebuffed until sometime later in the Spring; not satisfactory – it’s election year!

Submitted - Rick Green –  President –  South Fraser Community Rail Society – (Contact 604-866-5752)
Directors –  Roy Mufford, Lee Lockwood, Brit Gardner, Scott Thompson, Peter Holt, Gery Warner

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