PITT MEADOWS, BC – Yesterday, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced a $55.8 million federal investment towards four new rail infrastructure project bundles within Metro Vancouver. The City of Pitt Meadows is host to one project bundle, including, an addition of nearly 5km of track paralleling the existing rail track throughout Pitt Meadows, a four lane underpass at Harris Road, and construction of a two-lane over pass at Kennedy Road, which is estimated to cost $141 million.
“The funding announcement is a step in the right direction for the City of Pitt Meadows. The City has long been impacted by the regional and national movement of goods resulting in some of the busiest rail crossings in the region.” said Mayor John Becker. “While this funding will assist with a portion of the overall construction costs, we still have a ways to go to cover the shortfall.”
“An important next step, is hearing from our residents. This will be critical in understanding how and if these projects progress. Should our residents be supportive, we look forward to working with our partners to advance these projects,” stated Mayor Becker.
The City of Pitt Meadows is hosting an engagement session on June 25, 2018 from 4pm to 8 pm at the Heritage Hall. This will be an important opportunity for residents to provide input on transportation initiatives, specifically rail grade separation projects.
Over the past three months, City Council has developed a detailed list of principles and interests following the Gateway Transportation Collaboration Forum (GTCF) presentation in January. These principles and interests will guide any further partnerships related to transportation improvements. A key principle is that the City of Pitt Meadows does not have the financial capacity to fund regional initiatives.
“We are optimistic that through a robust civic engagement process coupled with cooperative partnerships we will be able to improve the overall quality of life for our residents and mitigate rail impacts to our community,” said Mayor Becker.
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