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

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