DELIVERING LOCAL AND NATIONAL BENEFITS

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The Roberts Bank Rail Corridor is an important 70-kilometre stretch connecting Canada’s largest container facility and a major coal terminal at Roberts Bank (south of Vancouver) with the North American rail network. It carries increasing volumes of international freight through communities in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

A comprehensive corridor study was completed in February 2007 to prioritize road-rail grade separations. Careful consideration was also given to selected road closures, network reconfigurations, and traffic management measures in order to maximize benefits for motorists, railways, and neighbouring communities. The study was a collaborative effort among all the key players, including the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the Vancouver Port Authority, TransLink, the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council, affected municipalities and the railways.

The Roberts Bank Rail Corridor project illustrates the value of the gateway approach and the leadership and partnerships it requires. Under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, grade separation projects are being addressed in the context of the whole corridor, with all the beneficiaries at the table. This approach leverages financial contributions from more players. Additional strategic measures are coordinated to complement construction of overpasses, generating even greater benefits and a win-win-win scenario.

Furthermore, the new road-rail grade separations for the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor will enhance the efficiency and safety of rail operations and accommodate the anticipated growth in trade-related traffic. They will also provide quality of life and environmental benefits to neighbouring communities by improving the flow of community traffic and reducing idling of vehicles at level crossings, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT PAYS OFF

The unprecedented close collaboration among stakeholders has resulted in an overall package of road and rail improvements of approximately $360 million, cost-shared among the various partners.

All partners in this project will contribute a total of $300 million for the construction of nine road-rail grade separations. Additionally, the railways will invest roughly $60 million in rail infrastructure to increase capacity along the corridor to meet the needs of shippers and improve supply chain efficiencies.

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