ARTICLE
- Langley Times
VALTAC
committe to host public rally/picnic
By Natasha
Jones
Times Reporter
Aug 08
2007
The Valley Transportation Advisory Committee (VALTAC) is inviting
the public to a picnic and rally, to encourage more support for
its stand on transportation issues.
VALTAC’s
country picnic in the park will be on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. in Douglas Park.
Committee
spokesman Sonya Paterson said the group wants to encourage members
and the public “to get on track and re-establish passenger
rail service to the Valley.”
Guest
speakers include John Cummins, MP for Delta; Gordon Price, a former
Vancouver councillor and member of the Liveable Region Coalition,
and Peter Holt, director for the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway
Society.
Paterson
said that by holding the rally and picnic, VALTAC hopes to improve
awareness of the transportation crisis affecting the Fraser Valley.
She said
VALTAC advocates a study that will examine the long-term impact
of rail traffic. She said that in April, 2006, MP Mark Warawa
left a meeting with Transport Canada officials, with a commitment
to initiate a new study on alternative rail line routes through
the Lower Mainland.
“This
is an important step in the long-term planning of road/rail issues
which forms the nucleus of the transportation problems in the
Langleys,”
Paterson reports Warawa as saying.
The plan
“falls in line with a master transportation plan that Langley
residents and municipal leaders have been asking for,” he
added.
Provincial
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon advocates a transit plan
which includes the whole Fraser Valley as a key element in the
expanded TransLink.
Both Langley
councils have supported finding a better vision for rail traffic
in the Valley.
“VALTAC
. . . urges public support to turn these words into actions,”
Paterson said.
VALTAC
is a strong advocate of re-establishing passenger rail service
on the Interurban line. Cummins, who has an interesting perspective
on implementing heavy freight improvements through the South Fraser
Valley, will be the guest speaker, Paterson said.
With the
Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society also at the rally/picnic,
it will be an opportunity for the public “to let decision
makers know how the public feels about more heavy freight through
downtown Langley and the need to restore passenger rail to the
Fraser Valley,” she added.
Paterson
said that nine new overpasses in Langley, Surrey and Delta to
accommodate increase freight train traffic “do not make
for a healthy environment."
(August 13, 2007)
VALLEY
RAIL COUNTRY PICNIC
A transportation message
combined with music and food at a Valley Rail Country Picnic sponsored
by VALTAC in Douglas Park on Saturday, August 11th. Featured speakers
delivered a hopeful message about improving transportation in
the South Fraser Valley while suggesting fresh approaches.
Gordon Price former
Vancouver Councilor and Director of the City Program at Simon
Fraser University noted that the South Fraser Valley would soon
be a distinct, major urban place. He urged a continuation of the
process which has seen streams left unburied and major areas set
aside as rural reserves, something that didn’t happen in
Vancouver and Burnaby. There are opportunities to build a well
balanced and affordable transportation system using assets such
as the existing rail corridor which connects the major centres
of the Valley.
Peter Holt, Surrey
City’s Interurban Project Manager is putting restored BC
Electric Interurban Cars back on the track between Scott Road
and Cloverdale. He outlined progress toward a 2009 start. He also
set out how a Tourism focused Heritage program could expand into
a Community Rail system using existing tracks from Surrey to Chilliwack.
The heritage of the Interurban may be merged with advanced propulsion
technology for this exciting demonstration.
John Cummins, MP for
Delta-Richmond East, merges the interests of Delta and Langley
to upgrade heavy freight movements to and from Delta Port. He
visualized an industrial corridor along the Fraser River using
rail, trucks and barges as well as infrastructure improvements
to minimize impacts and maximize efficiency. He cited the Betuweroute,
a Dutch rail corridor from Rotterdam to the German border. Built
in terrain similar to the Fraser Valley, tunnels and trenches
expedite freight movement while preserving livability.
The event attracted
about 200 people. The Entertainment and food was donated by Mustangs
Bar and Grill. Music was supplied by Under Fire with a special
appearance by Michael Cody. The efforts of a cadre of volunteers
cooking and providing information were greatly appreciated. More
than one visitor was heard to say, “Interurban? They never
should have stopped it. When can we get it going again?”
Indeed. VALTAC’s website is at www.valtac.org.
|
Gallery
