An oriental stone lion guards the Vancouver gateway - Date/Photographer unknown.

19 October 2012

Combo Project to Ease Congestion and Boost Asia-Pacific Gateway Traffic in B.C.

Vancouver British Columbia - The federal government and the province of British Columbia celebrated the launch of the Combo Project today, an important investment along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC) in British Columbia.
 
The project involves the construction of rail crossing overpasses at 192nd Street, 54th Avenue, and 196th Street in Surrey, B.C., which will increase road capacity, reduce delays, and mitigate the impacts of increasing commercial traffic.
 
These new road-rail grade separations aim to enhance rail operations and accommodate anticipated growth in rail and road traffic along the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor, said a federal government release.
 
The project's partners include the Government of Canada, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the City of Surrey, the City of Langley, the Township of Langley, the Corporation of Delta, Port Metro Vancouver, TransLink, and four railway companies (BNSF, BC Rail, CN, and CP).
 
The Honourable Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, the Honourable Mary Polak, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Mayor Dianne Watts, City of Surrey, Mayor Peter Fassbender, City of Langley, Mayor Jack Froese, Township of Langley, and Robin Silvester, President and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver, as well as other stakeholders were on hand to celebrate the project go-ahead 19 Oct 2012.
 
The total cost of this project is estimated at $121.5 million, including $43 million from the Government of Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, $25.6 million from Port Metro Vancouver, $25.5 from the Province of British Columbia, $13.6 from the City of Surrey, $8.3 from the City of Langley, and $5.5 from the Township of Langley.
 
Julia Kuzeljevich
 
Editor's Note:  Article abridged - Politician's statements removed.