Valley Transportation Advisory Committee is pleased to announce its 2008 board. The newly elected board is comprised of individuals and organization from Vancouver to Chilliwack, a true cross section of our region. The VALTAC board will work hard to help promote VALTAC’s efforts to bring forward, and hold government accountable to, solutions for healthier and more economical transportation solutions for the Fraser Valley.

Recently the media reported that a newly released “Federal report says the provincial government has not shown any evidence that freeway expansion will solve traffic congestion.”

VALTAC believes the proposed Gateway highway expansion plan should have included a passenger rail service to the Valley. Expanding highways is putting the cart before the horse. Transit in the South Fraser is woefully inadequate. There are cost saving reasons for looking at a rail based traffic solution for moving people before we expand highways and build expensive bridges. It is international known that people will get out of their cars and onto a passenger rail service before they will get onto a bus.

VALTAC encourages the provincial government to rethink the Gateway proposal and to focus their energies towards developing a long term and truly sustainable regional transportation plan that contains ALL MODES of transportation and includes regional land use objectives. This can be achieved by working together with municipal and regional governments.

Last summer VALTAC attended 7 festivals where several hundred citizens filled out a VALTAC’s 10 question survey. Their opinions included:

• A serious interest in an inter-community passenger rail service for the Fraser Valley
• Serious support for the idea of reinstating the Interurban rail corridor with a modern passenger car
• They believe the interurban rail corridor could easily and economically be reinstated with a passenger service now.
• Proper project management and coordination of a community passenger rail operation will benefit both people and business as well as help promote healthier transportation solutions for tourists, thereby promoting tourism to the Fraser Valley which benefits all.
VALTAC recognizes that a recent announcement by Minister of Transportation Kevin Falcon to study the Interurban route is a step in the right direction; however VALTAC suggests that a pilot project to implement a passenger rail service on the heritage Interurban route be implemented as soon as possible, not just in Surrey, but continuing out to Chilliwack.

VALTAC believes a modern passenger rail service could be reinstated on the interurban rail corridor by 2010. The media recently reported parking lots will be FULL during the 2010 Olympics. This is the reason that something must be done now. Buses are not as appealing as passenger rail service for 2010 visitors who will be staying east of the Port Mann Bridge in the Fraser Valley.

VALTAC feels confident that our newly expanded board will provide our organization with an even greater ability to unite people from Vancouver to Chilliwack to join our efforts to see passenger rail realized for the Fraser Valley.

VALTAC will be hosting a transportation forum March 27th at the Langley Township Hall from 5:00 to 9:00. The forum will include a transit lab workshop to give people the opportunity to look at the different routes and costs attached to deliver a passenger rail service to the Fraser Valley. Further information about our Forum will soon be posted to our website www.valtac.org

Please find attached a list of our 2008-2009 VALTAC Board of Directors

For further information please contact

Sonya Paterson
VALTAC President – www.valtac.org
604-888-2066