BNSF RAIL RELOCATION – SEMIAHMOO PENINSULA
01 / PURPOSES OF THIS WEBSITE
- Provide information for all
- Allow forum for politicians
- Move from advocacy to political action
- Subscribe to email newsletters
02 / HISTORICAL CONTEXT
- 1909 – 2 to 3 trains/day; 6 cars
- 1992 – 2 to 5 trains/day; cars unknown
- 2016 – 15 to 20 trains/day; up to 140 cars
- 2030 – continued increase in frequency & length
03 / PRESENT SITUATION
• Safety, Economic, Environmental
• Dedicated Efforts 2013 to 2020
• Perspective on Political Support
• Next Step: Feasibility study completion
04 / EMERGING SAFETY CONCERNS
- Undesired emergencies [UDE’s]; trains break apart
- Soil slides becoming more frequent
- Rising ocean levels lapping rails
- Mechanical issues
05 / WHAT CAUSES DERAILMENTS?
- Train breaks apart [UDE’s + other]
- Soil Slides before or during passing train
- Ocean lapping weakens rail bed
- Mechanical issues alone or with other
06 / DERAILMENT DISASTERS
- Major human life losses on horizon
- Oil spillage and explosions
- Chlorine spills
- Ammonia spills
07 / EMERGING ECONOMIC CONCERNS
- Key route disruptions
- Inefficient Fraser Port connections
- Loss of Port popularity
- Sumas Route closure
08 / ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
- Enhancement of Gateway Initiative
- Capital Cost Funding by Sharing + Legislation
- Economic growth and Trade
- Hi-Speed Rail
09 / ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
- Climate Change
- Ocean Level Rise [CFAS]
- Shoreline Degradation
- Habitat Disruptions
10 / WHY IS THIS RR UNIQUE IN NA?
- Our RR shortens time and distance
- Most RR’s in NA add time and distance
- See Graphics under ‘Learn More’
- Major affect on future Capital Funding
11 / ALTERNATE INLAND ALIGNMENTS
- Various alignments considered in past
- Alignment #4 now favored by all
- Sumas-Huntington falling out of favor
- See Graphic under ‘Learn More’
12 / WHAT’S IN FEASIBILITY STUDY?
- Engineering work i/c depths, grades, etc
- Urban + Transportation Plans
- Capital Cost Estimates + Partner Allocations
- Life cycle economic analysis
13 / FUNDING FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY
- Municipalities
- Provincial Government
- Port Metro Vancouver
- Private + other
14 / MUNICIPAL COMMITMENTS
- Oct 2014 – City WR initial study into process RR
- Oct 2015 – City Surrey directive Feasibility Study
- Jan 2016 – City Surrey study into Economics RR
- 2016 – both Cities budget for Feasibility Study
15 / WORKING WITH BC PROV GOV'T
- 2014 thru 2016 liaison Gordie Hogg BC-MLA
- 2017 letter BC Min Transp. to Fed Gov’t
- 2017 new Coalition Gov’t; contacts weakened
- 2018 Comm Mt i/c local BC MLA Tracy Redies
16 / WORKING WITH PORT METRO VAN
- 2016 – City WR report to PMV
- 2017 – Advocacy liaisons by mail
- 2019 – Full Engagement
- 2020 – Funding for Feasibility Study
17 / RAISING PRIVATE FUNDS
- Broad Public Support
- Bottom-up meets Top-down
- Charitable Donations Possible
- Our Expectations
18 / FUTURE CAPITAL FUNDING
- Total Required = $300M to $400M
- Many stakeholders will Contribute
- Economic figures difficult to Access
- Will be part of agreement or application to CTA
19 / BROAD OUTLINE OF TIMETABLE
- Funding for Feasibility Study by Dec 2020
- Complete Feasibility Study by mid 2022
- Approval of project construction … TBD
- Start Construction … TBD
20 / SUMMARY BNSF RAIL RELOCATION
- Extensive Source of Info for All
- Forum for Politicians is Proposed
- Proposed Funding + Timeline for Feasibility Study
- Estimated Cap Costs Construction and Timeline
Content derived from six years of work by ‘Advocates for Rail Relocation’ from sources deemed reliable, and as a community service; we assume no liability for inaccuracies; modifications or corrections accepted from readers who supply sources, references, and contact info.
Copyright 2021 – Advocates for BNSF Rail Relocation
Website updated to December 2020
