COMMUNITY RAIL (2006)
Many urban and rapidly urbanizing areas across the province, such as the Lower Mainland south of the Fraser and eastern Vancouver Island, possess viable rail lines and corridors (active and abandoned) which provide protected Rights-Of-Way (ROW) for highly viable transportation options using the community rail model.
The community rail model focuses on moving passengers around a community throughout the day rather than commuter rail that more often than not moves passengers long distances from their homes to work and back based on a single morning and evening commute.
In many cases the ROW only has a single track which is used by traditional rail freight operations (e.g. Southern BC Rail from New Westminster to Chilliwack). Such rail lines are undoubtedly viable options particularly when considered against the added congestion that results from increased bus transportation, particularly along critical arterials without pull-outs. It is recognized that due to the incompatibility between operating heavy freight and light community rail on the same tracks, it may be necessary to lay additional (double) track where necessary.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
That the Provincial Government;
1. ensure the integrity and maintenance of Rights-Of-Way’s throughout BC and in particular, ensures that such Rights-Of-Way’s in urban areas are considered as an integral part of local transportation options, such as the Interurban line, Surrey to Chilliwack and the E&N Rail line on Vancouver Island
2. task a committee to specifically study light community rail using existing tracks with the view to proceeding with prototype development and deployment of highly desirable and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives. These alternatives should focus on clean technologies supporting a sustainable environment.
Many urban and rapidly urbanizing areas across the province, such as the Lower Mainland south of the Fraser and eastern Vancouver Island, possess viable rail lines and corridors (active and abandoned) which provide protected Rights-Of-Way (ROW) for highly viable transportation options using the community rail model.
The community rail model focuses on moving passengers around a community throughout the day rather than commuter rail that more often than not moves passengers long distances from their homes to work and back based on a single morning and evening commute.
In many cases the ROW only has a single track which is used by traditional rail freight operations (e.g. Southern BC Rail from New Westminster to Chilliwack). Such rail lines are undoubtedly viable options particularly when considered against the added congestion that results from increased bus transportation, particularly along critical arterials without pull-outs. It is recognized that due to the incompatibility between operating heavy freight and light community rail on the same tracks, it may be necessary to lay additional (double) track where necessary.
THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS
That the Provincial Government;
1. ensure the integrity and maintenance of Rights-Of-Way’s throughout BC and in particular, ensures that such Rights-Of-Way’s in urban areas are considered as an integral part of local transportation options, such as the Interurban line, Surrey to Chilliwack and the E&N Rail line on Vancouver Island
2. task a committee to specifically study light community rail using existing tracks with the view to proceeding with prototype development and deployment of highly desirable and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives. These alternatives should focus on clean technologies supporting a sustainable environment.
Copyright ©2007 BC Chamber of Commerce 