Good afternoon. My name is Colin Wright, from the township of Langley.
Our principal concerns related to the Roberts Bank rail corridor are to do with safety. There's been a problem with safety for 15 years or more, as train traffic has increased through the corridor. We're now at the point where the port wishes to expand, and we understand the importance of this to Canada; it's really important that the Pacific gateway work well, in the context of the national and the provincial transportation systems.
Almost 100 years ago our forefathers made some bold investments in the railway, and they have served us incredibly well. We need solutions now that are going to last us for the long term too, but there are some immediate needs that need addressing straight away. They're long past due.
As Mayor Fassbender has reported, we have congestion in the city and in the township almost every hour, and at peak hours and during the day there's total gridlock. A train may pass through and occupy the rail crossing for less than five minutes, but the residual congestion takes 20 to 25 minutes to clear. At this time, it's impossible for the emergency services to function properly.
Some relief is being given by the north-south grade separation that's being installed as we speak, but to complete an east-west relief is absolutely critical at this time.
The township is anxious to be part of the solution. We basically are ready with funding to participate in getting this crossing in immediately. It would be advantageous if we could move the project forward just as soon as we possibly can. There's a study under way, which we expect to be completed before year-end. Our understanding is it's most likely to indicate that the works in Langley are a top priority in the corridor.
We also have an economic centre in the township and the city. It's actually the largest retail commercial area in the province, outside downtown Vancouver. This is an important area of commerce, business, and employment, and this train's impacts are making real damage to that growth and activity at the Willowbrook shopping area.
We got here really because there was an agreement in 1907 for trains up to about six cars long. We now have trains that are 12,000 feet and are possibly experimenting with ones going to 15,000 feet. The addition of the third berth at Deltaport will increase traffic impacts by 32%. There are plans to double that capacity after the third berth is completed.
Really, this is a success story, in that we have trade with China and the Far East. But it's important that we put in infrastructure so that the systems work safely. I believe that with the attention the federal and provincial governments are giving this issue right now, solutions are on the horizon, but we must stress the importance of moving straight away with the 64th Avenue-Mufford Crescent grade separation to deal with the existing and long-standing safety issues we have there.
Thank you.