The South Fraser Community Rail Society Valley Rail Protects Farmland and Forests.
Another News Release from the The South Fraser Community Rail Society.
By using existing railway rights-of-ways, there is little land take for operating the passenger service.
By using existing railway rights-of-ways, reduces the overall cost of providing a passenger service.
By using existing railway rights-of-ways a passenger service can be provide to areas otherwise omitted from the planning process.
The words of Mr Cow ring true.
I am continually amazed that an area like the lower mainland of BC, an area that claims to be so high tech, yet can’t get its head around the simplicity of a regional rail line using already available track. Yet, will spend billions and you guys will be spending billions ($2.9-$3.2 Billion by current estimates) , on a poorly thought out rapid transit line to Langley. Yes, a regional rail line won’t have the operating frequency of the Skytrain but because of the low to medium levels of expected passengers (too low for a Skytrain line, according to Translink itself), the service doesn’t need it, yet. As the need grows the regional line can be cheaply and easily updated, unlike the Skytrain which is horrendously expensive to upgrade. The advantages of this line and operating technology (DMU’s & Battery powered EMU’s) is that, a great many more kilometers of track can be offered for the same amount of money as 17 km of Skytrain.
What is being done around the world, providing an inexpensive transit service using existing railway lines.
Press Release – from Bill Vander Zalm July 18th, 2019
Message to the TransLink Mayor’s Council. On July 25th, 2019
3 Reasons to Vote NO to the Fraser Highway SkyTrain Option
and
3 Reasons to Vote YES for State-of-the-Art Interurban Option!
Protect Agricultural and Park Land in Metro Vancouver!
(Interregional South Fraser Community Rail Protects Agriculture / Parkland all the way to Chilliwack)
- The Fraser Highway SkyTrain Option Surrey Center to Langley City will run through 2.5 KMs of Agricultural Land (Serpentine Flats) and will have a peripheral negative impact and affect on agriculture in Surrey!
The Interurban Hydrail Option does not!
- The Fraser Highway SkyTrain Option Surrey Center to Langley City will run through 1.5 KMs of Green Timbers Forest and will require the clear cutting of a large swath of Green Timbers Forest down Fraser Highway.
The Interurban Hydrail Option does not!
- The State-of-the-art Interurban Hydrail Option protects against the encroachment into agricultural land by utilizing an existing passenger protected rail corridor at a cost that is pennies on the dollar.
Sincerely,
Bill Vander Zalm
Former Premier of British Columbia
Former B.C. Minister for Municipal Affairs and Transit
Former Mayor of the City of Surrey
Media – Connect with Bill Vander Zalm by request through Rick Green
@ 604 866-5752 or by email at southfrasercommunityrail@shaw.
ca
