PITT MEADOWS, BC – Starting today, people who live or work in Pitt Meadows are invited to take part in the first phase of public engagement on the Pitt Meadows Road and Rail Improvements Project.
The project will construct an overpass at Kennedy Road and an underpass at Harris Road. Currently, these crossings are two of the busiest railway crossings in the Lower Mainland. Separating road and rail will benefit the community by improving safety and community access, creating more reliable travel times and providing better emergency response options. Enhancing the movement of trade-related cargo through the Lower Mainland is vital to the national interest and is a high-priority.
“The goal of the project is to make travel around Pitt Meadows safer, easier and more reliable,” says Mayor Bill Dingwall. “The City is working closely with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Canadian Pacific (CP) to engage residents and collect their feedback and concerns to inform the design. All of the feedback gathered throughout the process along with the preliminary design will be considered by Council prior to moving forward.”
The project is in the research and planning phase, and there will be three rounds of public engagement. The first phase of public engagement will take place from October 21 to November 22, 2019, and will provide opportunities to talk to project staff in person at the open house as well as a month-long period to provide input online.
Digital engagement:
October 21 to November 22, 2019
portvancouver.com/pittmeadowsengagement
Open house:
October 30, 2019,
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
Heritage Hall (12460 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows)
Currently, the crossings in Pitt Meadows are blocked each day by moving trains for an average of one hour and 45 minutes at Kennedy Road and three hours and 30 minutes at Harris Road. The Harris Road crossing was identified by Transport Canada as a priority for safety improvements. Separating the rail crossings from the road, will reduce the risk of collision between road users and trains and provide better access for first responders. The project will also create opportunities for public space improvements and improved connections for walking and cycling.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge,
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca
p. 604.460.6704