Valley Transportation Advisory Committee

Mayor Green reported on June 29th that he had received a response from BC Hydro that assured him that they would be maintaining their passenger rights over the section of the BCER rail corridor currently operated by CP Rail and Southern Rail of BC for heavy freight."This is good news" reported Mayor Green.

VALTAC will be watching closely to ensure that there are no surprises from BC Hydro in the ongoing process that could impact the province's (BC Hydro's) rights over this important section of rail line.

By now, I am sure anyone in Metro Vancouver with any interest in transit services is aware that TransLink is engaged in a major push togain public support for an increase in funding, or investment as TransLink like to call it. This funding is to be raised primarily from those living in TransLink's area of operation (Metro Vancouver) through increased fares, taxes and fees.

Following the letter from the Mayor of the Township of Langley one would have expected BC Hydro to quickly re-secure their passenger rights along the CP section of the old interurban corridor. It was strange enough that BC Hydro had to be informed by the mayor in the first place that they had rights that were expiring on August 29, 2009. Hopefully we are not going to see any political foot dragging on an issue that would effectively give away the passenger rights for ever. After all, re-securing the rights just keeps the options open, it doesn't mean that anyone has to actually commit to do anything.

Mayor Green presented the following report to council in support of his strategy to bring light rail back to the interurban corridor.