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| KEEPING
TRACK NEWS Archive |
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| Development put in context |
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| Author: Frank Bucholtz - Langley Times |
| News Date: May 4, 2008 |
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| A number of the concerns that I’ve had for years about how this area is developing were put into proper context last Saturday at the third annual VALTAC (Valley Transportation Advisory Committee) forum. |
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| Commuter rail could work |
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| Author: Jeff Nagel - Langley Times |
| News Date: May 4, 2008 |
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| The new president of Southern Railway of B.C. says he’s willing to let people — not just cargo — ride his rails if a new commuter rail service ever gets on track through Surrey, Langley and up the Fraser Valley. |
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| A desire for streetcars |
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| Author: Monique Tamminga - Langley Times |
| News Date: May 4, 2008 |
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| Langley Township Councillor Jordan Bateman presented a plan to turn Langley into a streetcar suburb to VALTAC members Wednesday afternoon. Bateman noted that when Langley is built out, nearly 80 per cent of residents will live between 196 and 216 Streets, creating a heavy traffic burden on the 200 Street corridor. |
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| Politicians need to consider light rail |
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| Author: Rick Green Mayoral candidate Langley Township |
| News Date: May 2, 2008 |
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| Letter to Editor: The organizers of the VALTAC transportation forum on Saturday should be congratulated. Now we have to hope our mayor and other mayors south of the Fraser, along with provincial politicians, are listening. |
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| Rail advocates meet up |
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| Author: Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance |
| News Date: May 2, 2008 |
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| Members of the Valley Transit Advisory Committee (VALTAC) met with Township councillor Jordan Bateman on Wednesday to talk about rail projects.
VALTAC has been a strong supporter of community and commuter rail in general, and of a revived Interurban line in particular, for several years.
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| Forum pushes light rail revival |
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| Author: Matthew Claxton - Langley Advance |
| News Date: April 29, 2008 |
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| At the six-hour rail forum organized by the Valley Transportation Advisory Committee (VALTAC) in the Township council chambers, the potential costs and benefits of a revived Interurban line were laid out. |
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| Southern Railway has big shipping ideas |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: April 27, 2008 |
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| There's a similarity between Southern Railway of British Columbia, which hauls freight throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, and the well-known children's book The Little Engine That Could. |
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| Challenges to light rail line, Township council told |
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| Author: Matthew Claxton - Langley Advance |
| News Date: April 25, 2008 |
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| Some Langley Township councillors are keen on light rail, but their staff recommends waiting for two years to see if it is worth a try.
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| Frustrated commuters staging all-day rally, with workshops |
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| Author: John Colebourn - The Province |
| News Date: April 24, 2008 |
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| Supporters of a light-rail commuter system for the Fraser Valley are rallying in Langley on Saturday.
"South of the Fraser, we think people should have an alternative to car commuting," said John Buker, Rail for the Valley spokesman. |
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| South of Fraser communities receive lion’s share of new transit services |
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| Author: Translink News Release |
| News Date: April 22, 2008 |
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| People living in the communities south of the Fraser River now have more ways to reduce their transportation carbon footprint with more transit service taking effect on April 21. Half of the new service is earmarked for Surrey, Delta, White Rock, the City of Langley and the Township of Langley. |
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| Dismissing light rail in Valley short-sighted |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: April 20, 2008 |
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| Given the confines of the Fraser Valley's pollution-prone airshed, it boggles the mind how some "experts" who live and work in the region can so easily dismiss utilizing the old inter-urban line for light-rail transit. |
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| SkyTrains to be built in Mexico |
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| Author: Frank Luba - The Province |
| News Date: April 13, 2008 |
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| New SkyTrain cars announced as part of a $150-million expansion of the TransLink fleet will be built by Canadian company Bombardier -- in Mexico |
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| Interurban option pushed |
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| Author: Al Irwin - Langley Times |
| News Date: April 4, 2008 |
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| The Interurban line travels through many strategic locations on its way from Chilliwack to Surrey, including employment and commercial centres, and all the post-secondary institutions between Chilliwack and Surrey are along the old rail line. |
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| Passenger rail a long way off |
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| Author: Glenda Luymes - The Province |
| News Date: March 27, 2008 |
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| The push for a Fraser Valley passenger rail system has lost a little steam with the publication of a Fraser Valley Regional District draft report discouraging the concept. |
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| Don't ignore south of Fraser |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: March 16, 2008 |
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| No matter how you look at it, the five municipalities south of the Fraser are significantly underserved by TransLink's bus service, compared to the rest of Metro Vancouver. |
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| Township council not comfortable with SoFA |
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| Author: Al Irwin - Langley Times |
| News Date: March 11, 2008 |
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| TransLink’s current South of Fraser Area (SoFA) transit plans won’t meet the future needs of Langley residents, but Township council was divided Monday on how to remedy the situation. |
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| Put local transit first |
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| Author: Mayor Clint Hames |
| News Date: February 26, 2008 |
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| Chilliwack needs a huge investment in its own transit. Any access to revenue sources, such as additional gas tax, needs to prioritize toward local transit first. We have a very limited service in our community and little access to additional provincial transit funding. |
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| It's really all about winning the next election
Contradictory messages on issue of climate change |
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| Author: Michael Smyth |
| News Date: February 21, 2008 |
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| Is Gordon Campbell really serious about global warming or just warming up to voters by melting the ice cap on his once-frigid political image? |
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| What if there's a major chemical spill? |
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| Author: Les Bazso - The Province |
| News Date: February 18, 2008 |
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| Too bad they didn't make the same call and cancel the evening freight train carrying three containers of liquid chlorine. A sudden slide on the waterlogged bluff slams into a passing train, causing several cars to derail. |
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| "Tram-train", the Interurban in 2008! |
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| Author: Donald Malcom Johnston - Delta Light Rail Committee |
| News Date: February 16, 2008 |
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| Donald Malcom Johnston's presentation at the Chilliwack forum Feb 16 2008 on light rail transit.
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| Chilliwack gathering to push for Valley rail plan |
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| Author: Kent Spencer, The Province |
| News Date: February 14, 2008 |
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| Organizers say 850,000 residents from Delta to Chilliwack will support modern light-rail service if they learn the facts. |
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| Federal reports not supporting provincial government claims on Gateway Project |
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| Author: VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) |
| News Date: February 11, 2008 |
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| Both Environment Canada and Health Canada have issued reports that are critical of the Gateway Project that includes the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge. The federal reports say the provincial government has not shown any evidence that freeway expansion will solve traffic congestion. |
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| Time for all to board a revived Interurban |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - Province |
| News Date: February 5, 2008 |
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| By the time the old Interurban rail service that linked Vancouver and Chilliwack was closed in 1950, the 40-year-old system was serving roughly 70,000 people throughout the Fraser Valley. |
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| Edge of the Ledge |
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| Author: Donald Malcom Johnston |
| News Date: February 5, 2008 |
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| I am severely distressed after hearing Friday's program, "Edge of the Ledge", with Vaughn Palmer and Keith Baldrey about the Premier's $14 billion transit plans for the province. |
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| Langley needs rapid transit |
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| Author: Ashley Zarbatany |
| News Date: January 16, 2008 |
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| Langley gains little from an ambitious provincial transit plan announced Monday, says letter writer Ashley Zarbatany. She notes that it takes a long time to go to Vancouver from Langley, and that won’t change. |
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| For future, learn from the past |
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| Author: Bryan Vogler, Special to The Record |
| News Date: January 12, 2008 |
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| Many people who are against the Port Mann Bridge twinning or widening have only one solution left, and that is passenger rail. |
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| Look At The Alternatives |
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| Author: Natasha Jones - Times Reporter |
| News Date: November 7, 2007 |
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| While politicians from all levels of government are lauding the partnership that will produce nine railway overpasses over the next decade, residents from the affected communities of Langley, Surrey and Delta are sounding the alarm over economic and environmental concerns |
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| City will be heard |
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| Author: Kristyl Clark - Times Reporter |
| News Date: November 7, 2007 |
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| On Monday evening, council carried a motion to spend $10,000 to participate in a feasibility study of the 192 Street/54 Avenue/196 Street Corridor with Transport Canada, the provincial ministry of transportation, TransLink, the City of Surrey and Township of Langley. |
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| James ‘out of touch’ on Gateway issue |
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| Author: Monique Tamminga - Times Reporter |
| News Date: September 30, 2007 |
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| Some Langley politicians are appalled by NDP leader Carole James’ unexpected stand against the province’s Gateway program. |
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| Transit solutions sought online |
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| Author: Matthew Claxton, Langley Advance |
| News Date: September 27, 2007 |
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| A Langley group hopes a new website will give users a chance to plan their own transit system.
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| Proponents for light rail transit will gather at city hall Sunday |
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| Author: Mike Chouinard - Chilliwack Times |
| News Date: September 21, 2007 |
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| A group that formed on the Internet to push for commuter rail in the Fraser Valley will be taking to the streets to get their message out this Sunday.
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| Port Mann Bridge Twinning |
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| Author: John Gordon - Al Irwin - Langley Times |
| News Date: September 21, 2007 |
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| Gateway Program executive director Mike Proudfoot explains aspects of the Highway 1 expansion project to John Campbell, past president of Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce, at Wednesday’s open house in Langley City. Four more open houses are planned as part of the environmental assessment of the Port Mann Bridge twinning and freeway expansion program.
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| We had Light Rail 100 Years Ago. |
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| Author: Nathan Pachal |
| News Date: September 21, 2007 |
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| It still shocks me to think that from 1910 until the 1950s, we had a complete light rail system that connected all areas of the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver. People back then (when the population was about one-quarter of what it is today) had access to a better system then we do today. |
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| Time to stop heavy rail intrusion |
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| Author: Bill Marr |
| News Date: September 19, 2007 |
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| The heavy rail corridor through Langley is a fact, and the upgrading and usage of this corridor is just beginning. If ever we are going to stop this intrusion of a railroad that is being built exclusively for the use of others, for shipments from Asia to the Eastern American seaboard, it has to be now. |
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| RAIL CORRIDOR GHETTO LOOMS |
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| Author: VALTAC - PRESS RELEASE |
| News Date: August 23, 2007 |
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| Without a Master Transportation Plan, the heart of Langley is doomed. Spending the public’s money on a few overpasses without understanding the benefits of integrating federal, provincial, regional and local interests is simply wasteful. |
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| New group pushes for Valley light-rail system |
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| Author: Brian Lewis, The Province |
| News Date: August 16, 2007 |
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| From Delta to Chilliwack and Hope, a grassroots movement is building to scale back costly road-expansion projects in favour of placing a new emphasis on light-rail transit for moving people throughout the region. |
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| New group pushes for Valley light-rail system |
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| Author: Brian Lewis, The Province |
| News Date: August 16, 2007 |
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| If local politicians at all levels have any interest in re-election, they'd better start paying serious attention to a growing groundswell in the Fraser Valley. |
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| Move rail routes or prepare for a major headache |
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| Author: Mathew Claxton - Langley Advance |
| News Date: July 10, 2007 |
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| With the Deltaport's expansion imminent, Cummins wants trains to travel along a northern rail route, which passes through Fort Langley, rather than along the southern route which passes through the centre of Langley City. |
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| Power Play |
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| Author: Chris Bryan - South Delta Leader |
| News Date: July 6, 2007 |
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| That’s the pitch from Delta-Richmond East MP John Cummins, who says a project linking the Rotterdam port with the German border inspired his proposal for a freight-only, electrified rail line between Deltaport and Abbotsford. |
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| Gov't eyes expanding TransLink into Fraser Valley |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: July 1, 2007 |
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| One option receiving attention under a nearly complete B.C. government review of TransLink's structure -- and ways to improve it -- is to extend the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority's jurisdiction up the Fraser Valley. |
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| Full steam ahead for overpasses |
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| Author: Matthew Claxton - Langley Advance |
| News Date: June 29, 2007 |
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| Three new rail overpasses will be built, including the Glover Road-Mufford interchange. |
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| ROBERTS BANK RAIL CORRIDOR ANNOUNCEMENT IS BAD NEWS |
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| Author: VALTAC |
| News Date: June 28, 2007 |
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| VALTAC spokesman Lee Lockwood stated today that the works proposed to facilitate freight movement to Roberts Bank are bad news for the people of Langley |
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| ROBERTS BANK RAIL CORRIDOR ANNOUNCEMENT IS BAD NEWS |
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| Author: Valtac |
| News Date: June 28, 2007 |
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| VALTAC spokesman Lee Lockwood stated today that the works proposed to facilitate freight movement to Roberts Bank are bad news for the people of Langley. “The public interest is being ignored by Federal, Provincial and Local governments and the interests of the Port and Railways are not being effectively served either.” |
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| Public transit in Valley 'almost at a crisis point' |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: June 2, 2007 |
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| As many frustrated bus riders will tell you, public transit south of the Fraser River is not only broken and in need of fixing -- in some places it doesn't even exist. |
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| Free buses vs. "expensive" rail? |
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| Author: Light Rail Now! Publication Team |
| News Date: May 31, 2007 |
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| There seems to be a widely held notion among the public – including
many politicians, journalists, etc. – that rail transit systems, such as light
rail transit (LRT), are weighted down with substantial heavy capital
expense...
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| Fast Tracks |
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| Author: Ryan Starr - Business Examiner |
| News Date: May 3, 2007 |
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| The remedy to Greater Vancouver’s traffic woes is a bitter pill for some, but the alchemist of the cure says it’s time to swallow. |
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| A call to return the Interurban |
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| Author: Pierre Rovtar |
| News Date: May 1, 2007 |
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| Reporter Jeff Nagel says a proposed rapid transit system from Scott Road to Langley along 27 kilometres of the old Interurban line would be tricky and expensive to build. |
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| Langleys’ residents are crazy for cars |
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| Author: Jeff Nagel and Monique Tamminga - Langley Times |
| News Date: April 11, 2007 |
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| Langley residents own more cars, SUVs and trucks per capita than any other municipality in the Lower Mainland and the trend isn’t expected to slow. |
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| Falcon raids contingency fund as Budget Reaches 1 Billion |
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| Author: Jeff Nagel - Black Press |
| News Date: April 4, 2007 |
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| The budget for the South Fraser Perimeter Road (SFPR) has climbed to $1 billion.
That’s up $200 million from an original $800 million.
The latest estimates were revealed last week in the legislature by Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, under questioning from New Democrats.
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| Harcourt:Build Rapid Transit to Fraser Valley Now |
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| Author: NEWS 1130 |
| News Date: March 10, 2007 |
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| Former Premier and now transportation consultant Mike Harcourt says 'forget about doing more studies, the time is now' to start building rapid transit to the Fraser Valley. |
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| Railway committed to work with first responders |
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| Author: Frank Bucholtz - Langley Times |
| News Date: February 25, 2007 |
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| Wednesday’s column, which outlined details from 911 calls resulting from two train derailments, elicited reaction from a surprising quarter — Canadian Pacific Railway headquarters.
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| Future Transit will run on rails if Valtac succeeds |
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| Author: Mathew Claxton |
| News Date: February 23, 2007 |
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| A presentation by a former Township planner outlined how existing rail lines could serve as community rail. |
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| GVRD to ponder tolls, fees on drivers |
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| Author: Frank Luba and Jack Keating - The Province |
| News Date: February 22, 2007 |
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| At its meeting tomorrow it will consider a staff recommendation to examine what the bureaucrats call "road pricing," which could range from tolls on roads and bridges to paying for the distance you drive. |
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| New trolley buses close to resuming operations |
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| Author: Frank Luba - The Province |
| News Date: February 21, 2007 |
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| All 39 of Coast Mountain Bus Co. New Flyer trolleys were pulled from service since Jan. 30 because of a power steering problem. Another 10 trolleys that have arrived aren't being put into service until the problem is solved. |
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| The dangers of a derailment A major chemical leak would be devastating |
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| Author: Frank Bucholtz - Langley Times |
| News Date: February 21, 2007 |
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| The challenges of the increasing rail traffic through Langley were laid bare at an open house sponsored by VALTAC, the Valley Transportation Advisory Committee, on Saturday. While there was the usual talk about the increasing volume of rail traffic to and from the port, and the challenges that poses to other modes of transportation, some new perspectives were also put forward. |
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| Green changes sweeping the province |
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| Author: Miro Cernetig - Vancouver Sun |
| News Date: February 14, 2007 |
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| The B.C. government is trying to out-green California with a sweeping strategy unveiled Tuesday to fight global warming by cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions from everything from cars and industry to the daily energy consumption of ordinary people. |
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| Green changes sweeping the province |
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| Author: Miro Cernetig - Vancouver Sun |
| News Date: February 14, 2007 |
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| The B.C. government is trying to out-green California with a sweeping strategy unveiled Tuesday to fight global warming by cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions from everything from cars and industry to the daily energy consumption of ordinary people. |
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| Heritage Rail Project is ready to hit the tracks |
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| Author: Brian Lewis - The Province |
| News Date: February 11, 2007 |
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| Having a one-track mind is proving to be a valuable asset for the small, dedicated group of enthusiasts in the non-profit Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society. |
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| GOVERNMENTS BREAK GROUND ON FIRST GATEWAY PROJECT |
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| Author: B.C. Gateway Program |
| News Date: February 9, 2007 |
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| Canada's New Government is providing $90 million in funding for costs associated with the construction of the bridge and a new grade-separated interchange at Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass. The Province is providing $108 million. |
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| TransLink looms on Abbotsford's horizon |
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| Author: Abbotsford Post |
| News Date: February 4, 2007 |
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| "Government eyes expanding TransLink into Fraser Valley," the headline said, followed by a few hundred words on the pros and cons of extending TransLink into Abbotsford and beyond. Apparently that is one of the options being discussed as TransLink ponders its governance structure. |
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| Twinning Port Mann a mistake, Burnaby people say |
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| Author: Erin Hitchcock - Vancouver Sun |
| News Date: January 18, 2007 |
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| BURNABY - A majority of the public is supportive of the city's opposition to twinning the Port Mann Bridge and widening Highway 1, according to public consultation |
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| Rail service possible, but costly |
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| Author: Jeff Nagel - Black Press |
| News Date: December 29, 2006 |
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| It is technically possible to run a rapid transit rail service from Surrey’s Scott Road SkyTrain Station all the way to downtown Langley.
But it would be tricky and expensive.
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| Light rail needed - now |
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| Author: Letter to Editor |
| News Date: November 9, 2006 |
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| We need a rail service in the Fraser Valley, and we need one now.
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| Semi crushed in train crash |
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| Author: Mathew Claxton - Langley Advance |
| News Date: August 25, 2006 |
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| A train crushed a tractor-trailer unit Thursday afternoon at a Glen Valley rail crossing, and the driver was seriously injured. |
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| Business derailing beauty |
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| Author: Bob Groeneveld - Langley Advance |
| News Date: August 8, 2006 |
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| Events so damaging to B.C.'s incredible variety of wildlife and otherwise pristine rivers and shores have been occurring at what appears to be an accelerating rate of late. |
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| Train slows emergency response several crossings blocked |
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| Author: Frank Bucholtz - Langley Times |
| News Date: July 26, 2006 |
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| The issue of trains delaying emergency vehicles has come up in Langley on a number of occasions. In fact, one of the main reasons the new 204 Street overpass is being built (for what seems to be a huge pile of money) is to allow emergency vehicles from Langley City to access calls on both sides of the tracks without delay. |
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