Report supports light rail

Report supports light rail

‘An honest accounting’ of the potential transit system

By Christina Toth, The Times September 21, 2010

Light rail proponents are optimistic about having passenger service return to the Fraser Valley after the release of a feasibility study on Monday.

“We’re tremendously excited. This is the most comprehensive light rail study ever undertaken in this province, performed by an outfit with expertise in light rail solutions,” said John Buker, a founder of Rail For the Valley founder and a study co-ordinator.

“This is an independent analysis by a respected company based in Great Britain that has a very solid track record in rail planning, including work on, among other things the Channel Tunnel. This report will, at long last, provide us with an honest accounting of the potential for passenger rail service on the Interurban corridor. This is something that has been sorely lacking in all provincial government-commissioned studies to date.”

The report looked at the issues on re-establishing a passenger services on the former Interurban track, which runs from Chilliwack to Surrey, and which is currently used by Southern Railway for freight.

The capital costs for a diesel/hybrid train on a run from Chilliwack to the Scott Road Skytrain station would be $500 million ($5 million per kilometre) or $606 million for an electric option ($6.2 per km).

The report proposes three trains per hour on the route during commuter peak times through the work week, twice an hour during non-peak times and weekends. Riders could use a microchip smart card that could be prepaid and reloaded for any combination of ride tickets.

The report also looked at options to downtown Vancouver (a $1 billion price tag) and to Richmond.

Travel times are estimated to be 90 minutes from Chilliwack to the Scott Road Skytrain Station, or two hours in total if a commuter continued to downtown Vancouver. The trip from Knight Road in Sardis to Abbotsford would take under 30 minutes, and a trip from Chilliwack to Yarrow, just 13.5 minutes

The author, Leewood Projects of England, analyzed the potential for light rail service on the existing and publicly owned Interurban rail corridor, and its potential to connect communities south of the Fraser from Chilliwack to Vancouver with an affordable, sustainable public transportation system. The Interurban serviced the valley daily until the late 1950s.

Buker said his group had been waiting for a $400,000 provincial study on light rail, but its scope didn’t include Vancouver, Surrey and Langley. Rail For The Valley concluded that it was doubtful the provincial report, when it is finally released, will shed much light on the true potential for a light rail service.

To view the report online, connect to: leewoodprojects.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/chilliwack-to-surrey-interurban-final-reportr.pdf

Ai??Ai?? Copyright (c) Chilliwack Times

via Report supports light rail.

Mayor remains mum on latest rail system study

Mayor remains mum on latest rail system study

By Tyler Olsen, The Times September 24, 2010

Fraser Valley rail activist John Vissers hopes an in-depth report that bills the capital costs of a rail connection between Chilliwack and Surrey at $500 million will help convince city council to support a Fraser Valley passenger rail system.

The report, which was released Monday and commissioned by Rail for the Valley, says that a half-billion dollars of upgrades and vehicles would allow passengers to make a 90-minute rail trip between Chilliwack and the Scott Road Skytrain station in Surrey. For $100 million more, that line could be electrified.

Vissers, a spokesperson with Rail for the Valley, said the plan “is very good news.”

Factor in carbon offsets and the ability for people to get from community to community without purchasing a car and gas, and Vissers said “an electrified community rail system would actually save us money and it would help the economy.”

Vissers hoped that the report would help convince Chilliwack council and mayor Sharon Gaetz to throw their support behind a valleywide rail task force that has representatives from most other Fraser Valley municipalities.

“I like Sharon,” said Vissers, “but she’s just kind of waffling on this.”

Gaetz, however, declined to comment on the report. City hall spokesperson Starlee Renton said “her position is [that] she’s still waiting for the province’s report to come out.”

Coun. Diane Janzen was willing to talk about trains.

“I think it’s very good that they put some of the capital costs down,” said Janzen. However, she said that it is difficult to determine the feasibility of rail without knowing the proposed system’s operating costs, which are not projected in the report.

Janzen noted that public transportation is generally heavily subsidized by governments, which are currently feeling the fiscal pinch. She would also like to see a breakdown of the numbers and characteristics of the prospective users.

But she said the report is another piece of valuable information that can only aid in the decision making process. Janzen added: “One of the things about the transportation issue is that it’s so mammoth in size in terms of what it can do for people; it’s so important. But it’s also such a huge public investment that it has to be done very carefully. It’s one of those things where you can’t un-ring the bell.”

Vissers, for his part, said the report is an important “first step” and acknowledged that more research needs to be done before any money is spent on track upgrades.

But he is adamant that rail is the way to go.

The provincial government continues to sit on a transportation study that cost $400,000. Vissers–who sat on a committee convened by the study–said he has heard that the study may recommend “one or two buses” over the next 10 years. Needless to say, he doesn’t like the sound of that.

Council recently passed a motion that asks the Ministry of Transportation to release the report.

“The city of Chilliwack is extremely interested in that document,” said Janzen. The city’s request follows a similar motion by the Fraser Valley Regional District. Vissers too would like to see the report, such as it is.

“We’re really disappointed that the provincial government has spent $400,000 on a private consulting firm to do a study on the Fraser Valley and we haven’t heard anything about it,” said Vissers.

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Jeff Knight told the Times that the report “is supposed to be ready sometime this fall.”

Asked what the hold up was, Knight would only say (twice) that “it’s very close.”

Ai??Ai?? Copyright (c) Chilliwack Times

via Mayor remains mum on latest rail system study.

Report supports valley light rail

Report supports valley light rail

By Christina Toth, The Times September 24, 2010

One hundred years after the Interurban rail wound its way across the Fraser Valley, light rail proponents are optimistic the passenger service can make a comeback after the release of a feasibility study on Monday.

Rail service could be re-established on about 100 kilometres of the existing B.C. Hydro-owned line for $500 million, with the main train depot possibly located in Abbotsford, said a report commissioned by the Rail for the Valley group.

“We’re tremendously excited. This is the most comprehensive light rail study ever undertaken in this province, performed by an outfit with expertise in light rail solutions,” said John Buker, a founder of RFTV and a study co-ordinator.

“This is an independent analysis by a respected company based in Great Britain that has a very solid track record in rail planning, including work on, among other things, the Channel Tunnel.

“This report will, at long last, provide us with an honest accounting of the potential for passenger rail service on the Interurban corridor. This is something that has been sorely lacking in all provincial government-commissioned studies to date,” said Buker.

The track is currently owned by B.C. Hydro, and is used for freight by Southern Railway.

The author, David Cockle of Leewood Projects of England, reviewed the potential for an affordable and sustainable public light rail service on the existing and publicly owned Interurban rail corridor, which runs 98 kilometres from Chilliwack to Surrey. He proposes two options, one diesel and one electric, plus future links to Richmond, Burnaby, Vancouver and east of Chilliwack.

The report projects capital costs for the diesel/hybrid option for the Chilliwack-Scott Road line at $500 million, or $5 million per kilometre, and $606 million for an electric option, or $6.2 per km. There would be 10 stops along this corridor.

The report proposes three trains per hour on the route during commuter peak times on week days, twice an hour during non-peak times and weekends.

Riders could use a microchip smart card that could be prepaid and reloaded for any combination of ride tickets.

Costs to the rider would have to be comparable or cheaper than current bus fares or driving, the author writes.

Travel times are estimated to be 90 minutes from Chilliwack to the Scott Road SkyTrain Station, 45 minutes from Abbotsford to Surrey, and about 85 minutes from Abbotsford to downtown Vancouver, for commuters who transfer to SkyTrain in Surrey. The trip from Knight Road in Sardis to Abbotsford would be under 30 minutes, and from Chilliwack to Yarrow, 13.5 minutes.

– For more, visit us online, www.abbotsfordtimes.com.

Ai??Ai?? Copyright (c) Abbotsford Times

via Report supports valley light rail.

Chilliwack Progress – Regional transportation needs ‘holistic’ approach

Regional transportation needs ‘holistic’ approach

By Katie Bartel – Chilliwack Progress

Published: September 24, 2010 1:00 PM

Updated: September 24, 2010 1:38 PM

As much as a light rail service could benefit the Fraser Valley, it’s not the be all end all solution for connecting communities, says the president of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

“Getting rail for the valley is not going to solve everyone’s problems, it’s not going to be the silver bullet solution,” says Jason Lum, president of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce.

Lum was responding to a report released earlier this week by U.K. based consultant David Cockle, on behalf of Rail for the Valley, which promoted the feasibility of a light rail line from Chilliwack to Surrey.

Lum hadn’t seen the report, but had read an article on it.

While he agrees that better transportation options are needed A?ai??i??ai??? an issue chambers of commerce throughout the Fraser Valley have been pushing for A?ai??i??ai??? he says communities would be better served with a combination of options that would include things like commuter buses or rapid transit buses connecting the various cities as well as light rail.

“The Chambers’ message to all levels of government has been that it’s time for some action,” says Lum. “We know what the challenges are with funding, but it’s time to have an action oriented plan, to have results for better transportation linking the communities.

“Adding more single passenger vehicles onto the road is not the solution,” says Lum. “We as a society have to make a shift away from our reliance on cars as a principle means of transportation.”

Lum says a holistic approach needs to be taken, that communities south of the Fraser need to work together to implement a transportation plan that would work for all communities involved. He’d like to see a task force set up that has politicians and key stakeholders working together for better transportation.

But, he notes, it all comes down to money and what taxpayers are willing to pay for.

“People need to understand the true cost of the infrastructure they use,” he says. “This isn’t a popular option … but tolling and road pricing has shown to be an effective way of illuminating the costs of infrastructure … but again, it’s a decision that taxpayers need to make. Do they want to pay [higher taxes] or continue to drive around in their cars?”

kbartel@theprogress.com

via Chilliwack Progress – Regional transportation needs ‘holistic’ approach.

BCLocalNews.com – COLUMN: We should get on track

COLUMN: We should get on track

By Frank Bucholtz – Surrey North Delta Leader

Published: September 23, 2010 2:00 PM

Updated: September 23, 2010 2:42 PM

A study looking at resurrecting rail passenger service along the former interurban line needs to receive careful attention from Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley mayors, and from the provincial government.

The study was commissioned by Rail for the Valley, a lobby group that specifically wants to see more light rail service within the Fraser Valley, specifically from Surrey and Delta to Chilliwack along the former B.C. Electric Railway line.

That line was initially built to transport passengers, express, mail and freight. It did so very well from 1910 to 1950. It is almost completely intact today, and is used as a freight railway.

The provincial government has an ace in the hole when it comes to making use of the line. The land it sits on is owned by B.C. Hydro, which took over the B.C. Electric Company in 1961. When Hydro sold its freight railway off in the late 1980s, the province reserved the right to run passenger trains along the tracks A?ai??i??ai??? a right it continues to hold today.

When passenger service ceased on the interurban, 60 years ago this month, the entire Fraser Valley had fewer than 80,000 people living in it. Modern roads and bus service meant that there was less demand for a passenger rail service. At that time, the service was run by a private company which received no subsidy to carry passengers at a loss. It had no choice but to end service.

Today, there are one million Fraser Valley residents, with the population estimated to grow to 1.5 million over the next 20 years.

Anyone who has spent time on Highway 1 anywhere within the Valley knows that it is becoming more and more congested each year. While improvements to the freeway from 216 Street into Vancouver to accommodate the new Port Mann Bridge are underway, the road is scheduled to remains two lanes in each direction from 216 Street east.

Consultant David Cockle has suggested that a diesel-powered train could make the run from Chilliwack to the Scott Road SkyTrain station in Surrey in 90 minutes, at speeds of between 80 and 100 km/h. It could run every 20 to 30 minutes, and make 18 stops A?ai??i??ai??? all for a capital cost of just under $500 million. For another $115 million, the service could be electrified and be completely emission-free.

Former transportation minister Kevin Falcon never seemed very interested in the revival of the interurban. He made the valid point that the line meanders through the Valley, and goes through a number of agricultural areas where there is little prospect of traffic.

But it also goes through most major town centres south of the Fraser A?ai??i??ai??? Chilliwack, Sardis, Abbotsford, Langley City, and several shopping areas in Surrey, including Cloverdale, Newton, Scott Road and just west of Whalley. It also is very close to seven post-secondary institutions A?ai??i??ai??? three Kwantlen Polytechnic University campuses, Simon Fraser University, Trinity Western University and two campuses of the University of the Fraser Valley.

ItA?ai??i??ai???s high time that TransLink started to do a better job serving the area south of the Fraser.

This study needs to be carefully compared to a study the province has commissioned, a strategic review of Fraser Valley transit expansion options, which may be released this fall.

via BCLocalNews.com – COLUMN: We should get on track.

Valley residents on track with light rail

Valley light rail all go, twin groups claim

Valley light rail all go, twin groups claim

By Brian Lewis, The Province September 21, 2010

Advocates for reintroducing light-rail transit to the Fraser Valley along the old Inter-Urban route were building up a fresh head of steam on two fronts Monday.

On the first front, Rail for the Valley, a non-profit advocacy group working to establish community rail on the old B.C. Electric tram route from Surrey to Chilliwack, released a comprehensive 84-page report it commissioned from a U.K.-based, rail-transit consulting company.

The company, Leewood Projects, has worked on Phase 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, as well as London Underground projects.

“This report shows there’s a viable business case for community rail here,” says Rail for the Valley spokesman John Vissers. “We can say with certainty this is not a pie-in-the-sky project.”

In the first stage, the study calls for a light-rail system covering the full 98 kilometres from Scott Road in Surrey to Chilliwack, and utilizing two- or three-car articulated diesel/electric train units with a capacity of 120 to 240 passengers. It could be built for about $492 million and, initially, the units would run on diesel.

A second phase would involve overhead electrification of the route. That would add another $115 million and result in a total first-stage expenditure of $607 million.

As well, the study concludes that it’s feasible for such a light rail/interurban service to share the right of way with existing freight operations of CP Rail, the CNR and the Southern Railway of B.C.

Vissers says the “ace in the hole” here is the fact that the Inter Urban track, railbed and right of way are physically in place and owned by B.C. taxpayers, who through B.C. Hydro also have the right to run a passenger rail service on the line in conjunction with its commercial clients.

Meanwhile, on a second front, the South of Fraser Community Task Force was promoting its new 30-minute video Monday.

This is the group founded earlier this year by Township of Langley Mayor Rick Green. It also calls for Fraser Valley community rail service.

In fact, in addition to municipal government representatives from Delta, Surrey, the City of Langley, the township, the City of White Rock and Abbotsford, this group has advocacy group representation from Rail for the Valley, the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society, South Fraser On Trax and the Valley Transportation Advisory Committee.

Other task-force members include the valley’s three universities, which would be well-served by the Inter Urban line: Kwantlen Polytechnic, Trinity Western and the University of the Fraser Valley.

The video, Community Rail in the Valley, was produced by Shaw Cablesystems, which is now showing it regularly on its local outlet. It calls for an initial demonstration line that could run from Scott Road to Abbotsford.

“We’re already getting a very good response from the initial broadcasts,” says Green, who chairs the task force. “Putting light rail on the Inter Urban just makes so much sense, because it would run through all the valley’s population bases.”

Both the Rail for the Valley report and the Community Rail Task Force’s video will be shown far and wide this fall throughout the region, and to senior governments.

blewis@theprovince.com

Ai??Ai?? Copyright (c) The Province

via Valley light rail all go, twin groups claim.

Commuter rail service to the Valley is affordable – study – News1130

Commuter rail service to the Valley is affordable – study

Ninety-eight kilometres of light rail service for 500 million dollars

John Streit Sep 22, 2010 02:43:36 AM

7 Comment(s)

1 Recommendation(s)

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Get people out of their cars and into trains! That’s the message from Rail for the Valley, a group hoping for the return of commuter rail service to Chilliwack.

Rail for the Valley says this study shows that the region can build a large rail network cheaply from Scott Road in Surrey to Chilliwack – with affordable future extensions. They say the so-called Tramtrain would cost less than 10 per cent per kilometre than Skytrain technology with 98 kilometres of light rail service for 500 million dollars.

Phase one would involve diesel cars, phase two would be electric – with the rail service sharing track with CN, CP and Southern Rail.

via Commuter rail service to the Valley is affordable – study – News1130.

Abbotsford News – More ammo for light rail service through Valley

More ammo for light rail service through Valley

By Jeff Nagel – BC Local News

Published: September 21, 2010 1:00 PM

Updated: September 21, 2010 6:07 PM

A new Chilliwack-to-Surrey light rail line could whisk passengers from deep in the Fraser Valley to the existing SkyTrain system in 90 minutes, according to a new study commissioned by groups campaigning for the project.

The report, by U.K.-based consultant David Cockle on behalf of Rail For The Valley, estimates an initial service running every 20 to 30 minutes on existing tracks could be launched with diesel-electric trains for $492 million.

It could be later upgraded to a no-emission electric system for a further $115 million.

Cockle called the proposal “very viable” with trains running 80 to 100 km/h between 18 stops along the 98-kilometre route.

The line would fulfill a long-held dream to reinstate a modern version of the B.C. Electric interurban rail service to Chilliwack that was shut down 60 years ago.

“When the Fraser Valley passenger service was suspended in 1950 there were less than 80,000 people living throughout the Valley,” Cockle said. “Today, one million people live in Valley communities, with 1.5 million projected by 2031.”

Rail For The Valley spokesman John Vissers said concerns about air quality, climate change and rising gas prices are fuelling demand for an alternative to driving long distances.

“We can now prove from an engineering and marketing perspective that you can run light rail at speeds comparable to driving your car from community to community across the Fraser Valley,” Vissers said. “We want our train back.”

Neither the province nor TransLink has so far shown much interest in using the historic corridor, both in the past citing concerns transit service could interfere with freight hauling and that other potential rapid transit routes in the Valley might serve more people.

Advocates like Vissers note the price tag is a big advantage compared to building all-new tracks A?ai??i??ai??? especially when stacked against pricier SkyTrain technology.

The study estimates the cost of a phase one startup at just $5 million per kilometre, compared to the almost $130 million per kilometre it will cost to build the $1.4-billion 11-kilometre Evergreen Line to Coquitlam.

They also argue the province’s retention of free passenger rights on the corridor ensures railways cannot simply deny the dream out of concern they might make less money due to slowed freight service.

“BC Hydro wisely retained the rights to passenger service and now we have an opportunity to capitalize on that,” Vissers said.

The proposed route includes 10 main stations and eight more basic tram stops.

The study also contemplates possible spurs connecting Chilliwack to Rosedale as well as Surrey to Richmond and potentially on to Vancouver.

Passing loops would allow freight and passenger trains to pass, but Cockle’s study assumes most freight trains would be required to run at night only.

“You don’t have to do any major track reconstruction,” Rail For the Valley researcher Malcolm Johnston said.

He said there’s potential to use tram-trains that could operate on both the existing rail corridor through the valley plus possible new tram routes within local cities.

That would open up the potential for the same rail cars to turn off and head along King George Boulevard in Surrey someday, or up 200 Street from Langley to Maple Ridge.

“It’s do-able,” Johnston said. “It just takes political will.”

Advocates will plead their case with local cities, TransLink and provincial government officials in the weeks ahead.

Meanwhile, the provincial government continues to keep the lid on the results of its own long-promised strategic review of Fraser Valley transit expansion options, including the existing rail corridor.

A transportation ministry spokesman said the findings could be released this fall.

TransLink previously estimated it would cost at $360 to $700 million to create a passenger rail service as far as Langley on the interurban corridor, although the City of Surrey estimated a shorter route as far as Cloverdale could be launched for as little as $110 million.

Several area mayors are lobbying for light rail rather than SkyTrain technology for any rapid transit extension through Surrey to ensure a broader reach of the service.

A light rail running on tram tracks in Nordhausen, Germany

Proposed stations:

1. Scott Road. (Sky Train connection)

2. Delta – Nordel Way

3. Newton – King George.

4. South Surrey – 152nd Street.

5. Cloverdale – 180th Street.

6. Langley – #10 Road / Kwantlen Polytechnic University (Langley Campus).

7. Abbotsford – McCallum Road.

8. Yarrow / Cultus Lake.

9. Sardis – Knight Road.

10. Chilliwack Station, Yale Road W and Young Road

Additional tram stops:

1. Langley A?ai??i??ai??? 200th Street.

2. Trinity Western University A?ai??i??ai??? Glover Road / Fort Langley

3. Gloucester Estates / Aldergrove.

4. Abbotsford, Essendene Avenue.

5. Abbotsford – Marshall Road / University of the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford Campus)

6. McConnell Road / Abbotsford International Airport.

7. Huntingdon / Sumas U.S.A.

8. Chilliwack – Airport Rd / University of the Fraser Valley (Chilliwack Campus)

Chilliwack to Surrey Interurban Final Report

Ads by Google

via Abbotsford News – More ammo for light rail service through Valley.

Chilliwack Progress – Rail For The Valley puts squeeze on city

Rail For The Valley puts squeeze on city

By Robert Freeman – Chilliwack Progress

Published: July 07, 2010 8:00 AM

Updated: July 07, 2010 9:20 AM

Chilliwack is the only municipality in the Lower Mainland not on board a task force lobbying for a community rail system.

A?ai??i??Ai??For the last three years, Rail For The Valley has been pressing the issue of a passenger rail service that would run from Chilliwack to Surrey,A?ai??i??A? said RFTV spokesman Paul Gieselman.

A?ai??i??Ai??Much progress has been made … however, this has not been a unified movement,A?ai??i??A? he said.

The South of Fraser Community Rail Task Force includes representatives from Delta, Langley and Abbotsford – but not Chilliwack.

A?ai??i??Ai??Chilliwack has been invited, but has not decided to get on board,A?ai??i??A? Gieselman said.

An open house is being held in Chilliwack July 8 to inform the public about the work of the task force, and A?ai??i??Ai??put pressure on the cityA?ai??i??A? to join, he said.

Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz has balked at committing the city to passenger rail until a transportation study by the provincial government is completed.

She is also concerned about the potential cost of restoring the old Inter-Urban rail line that once ran from Chilliwack to New Westminster.

Just upgrading the 17 or 18 rail crossings could cost $500,000 each, according to an estimate by city staff.

But Gieselman said the mayor is getting hung up on the costs instead of the potential benefits.

The Chilliwack open house starts at 5 p.m. at Evergreen Hall on Corbould Street.

rfreeman@theprogress.com

via Chilliwack Progress – Rail For The Valley puts squeeze on city.