11 March 2008
CP Rail Refusal Hurts Use of Grant
Maple Ridge British Columbia - Maple Ridge Councillors
expressed anger at the Monday morning workshop over CP Rail's refusal to relocate a level crossing near the intersection of River Road
and Lougheed Highway. CP Rail's refusal has meant the district can't use a major infrastructure grant in the way it originally planned.
The district received a $622,000 joint federal/provincial infrastructure grant in 2004 to improve safety in the intersection and allow
easier access to businesses in the Albion Industrial Park by relocating the intersection further east. CP Rail agreed to relocate its
level crossing to allow that to happen.
However, after district staff completed the redesign of the intersection CP Rail withdrew its agreement and has refused to renegotiate
for the last two years.
"In moving east we would've been able to put a traffic signal in," said Frank Quinn, general manager of public works and
development services.
Quinn explained that currently the River Road/Lougheed Highway intersection is too close to the Kanaka Way and Lougheed intersection to
allow another traffic signal. Drivers are not allowed to make left turns onto Lougheed from River Road right now because of safety
concerns but Mayor Gord Robson pointed out people regularly make U-Turns on Tamarack Lane onto Lougheed.
"CP Rail initially gave us their approval but now they have an intent to use longer trains so they changed their mind," said
Quinn in an interview with the Times. "Unfortunately time is running out on the infrastructure grant so at the end of the day we
can't wait for negotiations or discussions with CP Rail to drag on."
District staff came before council on Monday with an alternate proposal to use the grant money. Under the alternate proposal, the
district would covert the eastbound right turn lane to a through lane on Lougheed Highway and extend it approximately 200 metres east
of River Road. A median barrier will be installed on Lougheed between Tamarack Lane and 105 Avenue. A bicycle lane will be installed on
the south side of Lougheed for cyclist and pedestrian traffic, including westbound travel to Haney Bypass. There will also be a new
pedestrian crossing at the southeast portion of the Kanaka Way at Lougheed.
At the council workshop Chief Administrative Officer Jim Rule said there will eventually have to be an overpass built over the railroad
track but he said that would cost around $20 million and won't happen tomorrow.
Robson said he predicts that Maple Ridge will eventually need to build four overpasses.
Councillor Al Hogarth said: "It's depressing to see we still have this uncooperative entity that uses and abuses our
community and is unwilling to work with the community."
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