Policy & Positions Manual
Policy Priority Area - Transportation
Second Vancouver/Seattle Passenger Train (2009)
Necessary Vancouver-area border infrastructure improvements have been made in the form of a secondary rail siding facility at Colebrook, so as to facilitate the operation of a second passenger train in conjunction with freight train utilization within shared common rail trackage. The escalation of passenger train service to include the second train has since been stalled over Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) cost recovery policy. A recent announcement indicates a “temporary” reprieve that will facilitate the operation of the second train, at least during the 2010 Olympics. Timely confirmation of effective dates is necessary to accommodate appropriate advance marketing. This is an important international corridor and the escalated service needs to be expanded on a permanent basis to serve the interests of both the Province Government and Washington State as transportation interchange points between Canada and the United States. The existing daily passenger train service between Seattle and Vancouver has been operating since 1994 without any passenger clearance fee application - similar to other international entry points where no such fees exist. Transportation is an economic engine for growth in enhancing trade, commerce, tourism and public mobility, all of which are significant contributors to the provincial economy.
This escalation of service is unquestionably important to the cruise ship industry, forthcoming 2010 Olympics and to the tourism generally. A recent study by the Border Policy Research Institute of Western Washington University concluded that a further $18 million could be expected to be expended by U.S. visitors to Canada with the addition of a second train which, in turn, would increase corresponding taxation revenues for various levels of government in Canada.
A significant elevation of services has been implemented to serve general border, port and airport operations, including containerization at Prince Rupert and the Gateway program in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, without imposition of CBSA cost recovery clearance fees. Similarly, following a Core Service Review of the air mode, CBSA has recently concluded that the Abbotsford Airport will be eligible for new or enhanced publicly funded CBSA services.
Additionally, with the current U.S. stimulus initiatives, rail and highway infrastructure qualify for substantial funding on upgrading infrastructure, some of which could enhance the important Seattle -Vancouver rail corridor for both passenger and freight operations. Lack of supportive Canadian initiatives, or delays in implementation, could jeopardize growth in the expansion of this important international rail corridor.
As a matter of principle, Customs and Immigration services, to facilitate entry and clearance of visitors, returning citizens or residents and/or commercial commodity trade, should be implemented at international points of entry without charge wherever it can be demonstrated that a viable transportation facility either exists or can be implemented. This is a necessity in the interests of national security, tourism and international trade.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
That the Provincial and Federal Governments work together:
- in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and/or others to expedite a continuous and enduring Canadian exemption from the cost recovery initiatives of CBSA for an expanded operation of passenger rail service within the Vancouver / Seattle rail corridor; and
- to encourage the CBSA to continue the escalation of their Core Service review process for all transportation modes to ensure that employment levels are maintained to adequately serve the needs of national security, tourism and international trade, with the objective that such should be administered in a manner similar to or consistent with other essential services.
