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Old Posted Dec 9, 2008, 2:35 AM
amor de cosmos amor de cosmos is offline
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Port of Vancouver Discussion

I don't know if I only previewed this earlier or if it got deleted. If it got deleted I guess it'll just get deleted again:

Quote:
All hands on deck as Port Metro Vancouver projects continue
BRIAN MARTIN
correspondent

In a sea of bad economic news, there is a pleasantly bright light as massive development at Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) continues.

About $4.25 billion worth of construction work is planned.

Tom Winkler, chief strategic development officer with PMV, said that his organization is moving forward with its capital expansion plans, despite the current difficult economic conditions in Canada.

“While we anticipate lower volumes than usual for the last few months of 2008, we are projecting overall increases in tonnage for 2009.

The growth may be modest compared with recent years, but we are anticipating growth nonetheless,” he told the November monthly dinner meeting of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA).

Winkler said that to fulfill its mandate the port must continue to plan for the future and initiate the development required to remain the gateway of choice for Asia Pacific trade.

The projects should create considerable work for both general and trade contractors, along with firms who supply everything from heavy equipment to cold weather underwear.

The largest project by far is the creation of a Terminal Two and 250 acres of container space for Deltaport at Roberts Bank.

It is estimated to cost $2 billion and preliminary work has already begun.

PMV has retained APM Terminals North America Inc. and SNC Lavalin Inc. to develop the conceptual and environmental plans for the project. They’re aiming to finish the project in seven to nine years.

Right next door PMV is moving ahead with plans to create a third berth at the existing Deltaport terminal, which could cost about $450 million. Preload is now being removed and the new berth is expected to be operational in autumn 2009.

The Richmond Logistics Hub is being expanded to the tune of $42.1 million. This 700-acre development is where ships, trucks and trains all meet to swap cargoes. It was started in 2001 and is being developed in stages.

Just upriver, the Surrey Fraser Docks is a container terminal developed in the late 1960s. It is in line for a $20 million upgrade.

In the Inner Harbour there is also considerable work being planned or already underway. Canexus, a chemical company is undertaking an upgrading of its facility in North Vancouver.

The $180 million upgrade will increase its productivity while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent and lowering its annual manufacturing and capital maintenance costs by 40 per cent.

Canpotex, the Saskatchewan potash export agency is planning to spend $370 million upgrading its shipping facilities. Half of this will be spent in MPV with an expansion adjacent to Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver.

Currently, Lafarge Cement is preparing to create a new ready mix facility and office building on land owned by the port on Commissioner Street in East Vancouver, but the estimated cost is still under wraps.

Other plans are still in the works.

There is a plan to dredge under the Lion’s Gate Bridge to make the port accessible to today’s generation of larger ships; upgrades to port roads on both the north and the south side of the Inner Harbour; plans to provide the Canada Place cruise ship terminal with shore power so cruise ships don’t have to idle their Diesel engines while in port and a plan to proceed with a series of agencies and municipalities throughout the Fraser Valley on a $300 million project to remove at grade rail crossings from Langley to Deltaport and replace them with overpasses.

“Private industry continues to invest billions of dollars in the Canadian port and transportation sectors,” Winkler pointed out.

In addition, he said provincial and federal governments also recognize the national port and transportation systems as vitally important to the strength of the country.

Port Metro Vancouver was created earlier this year with the amalgamation of the Port of Vancouver, Fraser Surrey Docks and Deltaport.

Trade through the port generates 132,700 total jobs across Canada and port-related activities are responsible for $10.5 billion in gross domestic product, $22 billion in economic output and $6.1 billion in wages.
http://www.joconl.com/rss/id31638
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Old Posted Dec 9, 2008, 7:46 AM
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^Sounds good. Here is another interesting article I just came across:

Quote:
Amalgamating growth
Metro Vancouver is bright spot on West Coast


PACIFIC SHIPPER, NEW JERSEY
December 8, 2008
MARK WILSON



As the most diversified major marine gateway in North America, Port Metro Vancouver has enough depth and strength to withstand the continent’s economic turbulence.

True, the pace of container growth halved from the usual 7 to 8 percent annual rate of increase, but the port was insulated from a slump in U.S. imports by its focus on the healthier Canadian market.

Metro Vancouver gained its diversity when three regional ports were merged, or amalgamated, into the larger entity. That gave the port container, roll-on, roll-off, breakbulk and domestic barge specialties in one fell swoop.

Port Chief Executive Chris Badger said growth in containers is expected to recover to 8 percent a year by 2011, based on a mix of internal and independent economic projections and factors in shipper expectations.

“Compared to the rest of the West Coast, our numbers have been fairly positive,” Badger said. “We are 96 percent focused on the Canadian container market and it has proved robust, which was a pleasant surprise.”

Loaded inbound containers during the first six months of 2008 were up 2 percent to 608,021 TEUs, while the count of loaded export containers grew by 11 percent to 493,483 TEUS.

Badger said that the number of loaded outbound containers could probably have gone higher but for a capacity constraint. “It’s the old story. Ships cannot carry as many loaded export containers, which move heavy loads such as forest products and grains, as they can containers with lighter import goods,” he said. “We don't know what the export numbers would have gone to had there been more capacity available.”

Badger said there was a correlation between the growth in containerized exports and a 14 percent fall in breakbulk traffic, due in large part to the transfer of ship capacity to more lucrative trade routes.

Bulk commodities account for the major share of the port’s tonnage. The numbers were up for coal (13 million tons), potash (3.4 million tons) and sulphur (2.7 million tons). The first two of these commodities posted 10 percent gains and sulphur exports rose by 7 percent.

Exports of petroleum products to the California market through the Westridge marine terminal of Kinder Morgan Canada and its pipeline from Edmonton helped lift bulk liquid shipments through the port to 4.69 million tons.

Badger said there is a time lag before any slowing in the national economy shows up fully in container statistics, and the port is hoping that its box traffic will continue to post gains for the balance of the year.

Confidence in the longer-term prospects for container business remains strong. Vancouver handled 1.22 million TEUs during the first half of the year; the full 12-month total in 2007 was 2.31 million TEUs. Annual single-digit gains can give powerful results over time, as the port's container traffic has grown from 1.55 million TEUs in 2003.

Badger said existing container-handling capacity is about 3 million TEUs a year and needs to be increased to 7.5 million TEUs by 2025, to meet forecast growth.

Next year, the commissioning of a third berth and an increase in yard area at Vancouver’s largest container terminal — Deltaport, 13 miles south of Vancouver's inner harbor — will yield a capacity gain of between 350,000 and 700,000 TEUs for Deltaport operator TSI Terminal Systems.

Then there are plans for a new container facility — T2 — next to Deltaport, to be developed in partnership with APM Terminals North America and SNC-Lavalin. APM Terminals is a unit of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group of Denmark, and Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin is one of the 10 largest engineering firms in the world.

T2 is expected to be a three-berth facility and could be sized to handle 2 million TEUs a year. There is no confirmed timetable for project completion.

Badger said there is scope to press extra capacity from two container terminals on the south shore of Vancouver’s inner harbor and to convert wharfage on the north shore of the harbor to container handling.

“To say that the (existing) terminals on the inner harbor have maxed out their capacity is wrong,” Badger said. “We are constantly looking at berthage, container yards, intermodal transfers and rail capacity to see where there are bottlenecks. We believe ship berths and railway mainline capacity need attention.”

The port is an active player in alleviating rail capacity issues. It has committed to giving up to $50 million toward improving a 46-mile rail access corridor to Deltaport and a neighboring coal terminal at Roberts Bank, and is now focusing on rail service to the north shore of the inner harbor.

The port’s contribution toward a $360 million program to improve the Roberts Bank rail access corridor will help pay for road/rail separation projects at nine locations and to the lengthening of three existing sidings to permit roll-by meets of unit trains on the single-track line.

Work is being coordinated by TransLink (The South Coast British Columbia Transit Authority) and is due to be completed in 2014.

Analysis of the rail situation on the north shore is concerned chiefly with trackage west of a Canadian National Railway lift bridge to the south shore. Terminals in the study area handle more than 30 percent of Vancouver's freight. This cargo contribution is valued at $6 billion a year and includes coal, grain, potash, minerals, sulphur and forest products.

Vancouver did a similar analysis as a prelude to the agreement on upgrading the Roberts Bank rail-access corridor.

In a companion study to its examination of north shore rail needs, Vancouver is considering possible capacity issues between the CN lift bridge and the carrier's sprawling Thornton yard on the south bank of the Fraser River. South of a tunnel, which connects with the lift bridge, CN uses BNSF Railway trackage to reach its own crossing of the Fraser River at New Westminster.

The New Westminster railway bridge, which opened in 1903, is costly to maintain, restricts trains to a speed of 11 mph and is expected to reach its capacity limit of 65 trains a day by 2010.

The cost of replacing the New Westminster railway bridge with either a modern crossing or a tunnel is so high that it has been excluded from consideration by Vancouver and awaits federal involvement in tackling the chokepoint.
http://www.pacificshipper.com/news/a...ype=west_coast
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Old Posted Dec 9, 2008, 7:50 AM
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thanks for the articles.
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Old Posted Dec 9, 2008, 7:28 PM
WarrenC12 WarrenC12 is offline
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Great news. Those are some huge dollar figures in the first article.
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Old Posted Dec 19, 2008, 7:06 AM
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I'm surprised this is done already:

Quote:
Vancouver cruise terminal installs shore-power facility

John Bermingham, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, December 18, 2008

The next time cruise ships come into Vancouver port, they will be hooking up to shore power, and turning off their diesel engines.

Vancouver has joined Juneau, Alaska, and Seattle as the only ports in North America with their own electricity hook-ups for cruise ships.

"This will improve the air quality in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley," said federal Heritage Minister James Moore, speaking at the cruise-ship terminal at Canada Place yesterday.

"This is an infrastructure project that will not only help the environment, but will also contribute to the quality of life, and create jobs."

The 8,800 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that will be saved is the equivalent of parking 1,700 cars in Vancouver for an entire year.

"This is the first in a series of investments we will be making to ensure we green our ports here in B.C., and have the highest standards in North America," said B.C. Transport Minister Kevin Falcon.

The marine shore power program is a $9-million investment by the federal and provincial governments, along with Port Metro Vancouver and the Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

Ottawa and the province are each kicking in $3 million, with the port and the cruise lines funding the other $3 million.

© The Victoria Times Colonist 2008
http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/...tml?id=1089932
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Old Posted Dec 19, 2008, 9:37 AM
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thanks for the article.
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Old Posted Dec 19, 2008, 2:18 PM
WarrenC12 WarrenC12 is offline
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Good to see this up and running soon, the next step is to do this for container ships right?
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Old Posted Mar 28, 2009, 1:47 AM
amor de cosmos amor de cosmos is offline
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this is actually a bigger announcement than I thought it was. maybe it won't get a lot of attention because it doesn't have much to do with the Port Mann Bridge or South Fraser Perimeter Rd:

Quote:
March 27, 2009
Office of the Premier
Government of Canada

CANADA, BC, PARTNERS DELIVER NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

VANCOUVER – The Government of Canada, The Province of British Columbia, Port Metro Vancouver, TransLink, local municipalities, and the private sector are partnering to invest in excess of $225 million in five infrastructure improvements on the North Shore that will enhance rail and port operations and build Canada’s Pacific Gateway.

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Premier Gordon Campbell, joined key stakeholders in Vancouver to announce funding for projects along the North Shore of Burrard Inlet.

“The Government of Canada is proud to commit up to $75 million to these infrastructure projects along Burrard Inlet’s North Shore through Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative,” said Day. “Most commodities imported and exported on the North Shore are directly related to trade with the Asia-Pacific region. Improving transportation infrastructure in this area will create jobs in the community and strengthen Canada’s competitive position in international commerce.”

“Our commitment of $62 million to these projects builds on the $15 billion in improvements Pacific Gateway partners are already funding to make Canada’s Pacific Gateway the gateway of choice for Asia-Pacific shippers,” said Premier Campbell. “The North Shore is a growing centre for trade and economic activity here in B.C. Through these investments we are improving access to ports and railways, and moving to seize job-creation opportunities as we strengthen our trading connections overseas.”

“This is an excellent example of how building for the future with sustainable growth can be realized through cooperation among all levels of government and the private sector,” said Port Metro Vancouver president and CEO Robin Silvester. “As an integral part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway, the North Shore Trade Area will not only result in significant community and environmental benefits, it will enhance economic development throughout the region.”

“TransLink’s contribution to road improvements in the North Shore Trade Area are totally in line with our ongoing program to fund and manage Metro Vancouver’s major arterial road network in a way that promotes efficient goods movement and sustains a healthy economy in our region,” said TransLink Chief Executive Officer Tom Prendergast.

“CN is pleased to be part of this comprehensive initiative to enhance the movement of goods through the North Shore Trade Area,” said Jim Vena, senior vice-president, Western Canada. “These projects, combined with CN’s ongoing investments in its own equipment and facilities, will help make the Pacific Gateway an even more competitive option for the movement of freight into and out of North America”

“Canadian Pacific is pleased to partner in the revitalization of Vancouver’s North Shore Trade Area, enhancing the long-term viability of Canadian potash, coal, grain, and other bulk exports,” said Jane O’Hagan, senior vice-president of Strategy and Yield. “This is an excellent example of government and the private sector working together to increase our global competitiveness through a world class port.”

“On behalf of the North Shore Trade Area terminals, I applaud the governments for their leadership in facilitating the improvement of the North Shore rail corridor,” said Jim Belsheim, president of Neptune Bulk Terminals (Canada) Ltd. “These projects reflect the importance of bulk and breakbulk exports, which are fundamental to the future economic health of Western Canada and Canada as a whole.”

“The City is very pleased to continue support of our waterfront industries through a project that will deliver significant operating efficiencies and capacity increases for those industries and economic development opportunities for Port Metro Vancouver and we are proud of the contribution that the City of North Vancouver is able to make to improve Canada’s economic capacity,” said Mayor Darrell Mussatto.

“North Vancouver District is pleased to be working closely in partnership with other levels of government, the rail companies, Port and industry on both the Brooksbank underpass and Pemberton overpass projects to achieve economic and social benefits for our waterfront businesses and the community,” said Mayor Richard Walton.

In addition to the projects announced today, Transport Canada continues to work with public and private stakeholders, including the Province of British Columbia, to advance other transportation improvement projects at the western end of the North Shore of Burrard Inlet.

On Oct. 11, 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI), with an initial investment of $591 million. A further commitment of $410 million was made in Budget 2007, bringing total federal funding for the APGCI to more than $1 billion. In two years, the Government of Canada has partnered with British Columbia and other western provinces, municipalities and the private sector, to announce strategic infrastructure projects worth more than $2.4 billion, including federal contributions of almost $900 million.

The Province of B.C. has partnered with public and private sector agencies to expand, upgrade and promote an integrated network of seaports, airports, railways, roadways and border crossings as Canada’s Pacific Gateway. Together, in total value, all partners are investing $15 billion in improvements to make B.C. the gateway of choice for Asia-Pacific shippers.

For more information about Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, please visit www.apgci.gc.ca online.

For more information about British Columbia: Canada’s Pacific Gateway, please visit www.th.gov.bc.ca/PacificGateway/index.htm online.
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_rele...058-000553.htm

details & descriptions from the backgrounder:

Quote:
March 27, 2009
Office of the Premier
Government of Canada

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN THE NORTH SHORE

The North Shore Trade Area provides a critical connection to overseas markets for export products and handles over 35 per cent of all cargo volume through the Port of Vancouver with a value of over $7.7 billion in 2007. Currently, the North Shore terminals are estimated to generate about 12,300 direct and indirect jobs in British Columbia, earning over $600 million in wages annually. In 2008, terminal operators and railways in the City and District of North Vancouver paid approximately $10 million in municipal taxes.

In this context, the governments of Canada and B.C. worked with various public and private stakeholders on the North Shore Trade Area Study, which was completed in Fall 2008. The study’s findings were used as the basis for developing an implementation plan that includes a package of transportation infrastructure projects along Burrard Inlet on the North Shore.

INDIVIDUAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BEING ADVANCED

Project: Brooksbank Avenue Underpass
Location: City of North Vancouver/District of North Vancouver
Approximate Project Cost: $25.5 million
Delivery Agency: Port Metro Vancouver
Description: The Brooksbank Avenue Underpass project consists of modifying the underpass to accommodate several additional rail tracks necessary for port terminal expansion plans. The project would enable increased rail capacity. Access to Harbourview Park south of the rail tracks will be protected.

Project: Neptune/Cargill Grade Separation
Location: City of North Vancouver
Approximate Project Cost: $48.3 million
Delivery Agency: Port Metro Vancouver
Description: The Neptune/Cargill Grade Separation will eliminate the existing at-grade crossing in the vicinity of Low Level Road and 3rd Street East that provides access to the Neptune and Cargill terminals. This project will facilitate rail movements, reduce rail whistle noise, and improve road access for workers and emergency services.

Project: Low Level Road Realignment
Location: City of North Vancouver
Approximate Project Cost: $59.2 million
Delivery Agency: TransLink
Description: Realigning and elevating the existing Low Level Road will accommodate two new rail tracks essential to port terminal expansion. This 1.5-km project will address drainage and slope stability issues, reduce train-switching noise, and provide separation between road and rail corridors that will improve road safety and port security. This realignment will also facilitate construction of the North Shore Spirit Trail multi-use pathway.

Project: Pemberton Avenue Grade Separation
Location: District of North Vancouver
Approximate Project Cost: $42.7 million
Delivery Agency: District of North Vancouver
Description: The Pemberton Avenue Grade Separation will provide an overpass across the Canadian National Railway rail line, replacing the existing Pemberton Avenue and Philip Avenue at-grade crossings. This will provide traffic relief to a projected 6,500 vehicles per day (by 2021) and reduce noise pollution in the local community while allowing Canadian National Railway to operate longer trains. The road connection to industries south of the rail tracks will also be improved.

Project: Western Lower Level Route Extension to Marine Drive
Location: District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, Squamish First Nations Land
Approximate Project Cost: $86.8 million ($50 million in funding committed)
Delivery Agency: to be determined once all funding is confirmed
Description: Extension of the Low Level Route from Garden Avenue to Marine Drive near Park Royal Shopping Centre. This two-lane road, which includes a new bridge over the Capilano River, will provide significant traffic relief to Marine Drive at the Lions Gate bridgehead. The Province of British Columbia has committed $25 million in funding for this project. The Government of Canada is in discussions with the Squamish First Nation and other stakeholders regarding this project.

These projects will enhance rail and port operations and accommodate anticipated growth in rail and road traffic, while providing local quality of life and environmental benefits, including:
  • Reduced congestion on the local road network.
  • Increased employment on the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland.
  • Enhanced support for Canadian forestry, mining and agriculture sectors who export through North Shore terminals.
  • Reduced noise pollution, such as train whistles at road/rail crossings and rail shunting.
  • Expanded terminal facilities that will increase provincial and municipal tax revenues.
  • Improved access to terminal facilities for commercial traffic.
  • More efficient rail operations and capacity to accommodate anticipated trade growth.
  • Enhanced access to emergency service providers (police, fire, ambulance).
  • Increased capacity for public projects such as the Spirit Trail multi-use pathway.
& it goes on & on, including a list of the private-sector investments that will be possible with the implementation of these 5 projects:
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_rele...ttachment1.htm
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Old Posted Mar 28, 2009, 4:20 AM
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Awesome news! Thanks for posting the articles, Amor.
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Old Posted Mar 29, 2009, 10:56 PM
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Wow, a new bridge over the Capilano River, that is pretty big news! A grade-separated crossing at Pemberton Ave is good news too. Glad to see this happening.
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Old Posted Mar 29, 2009, 11:24 PM
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Thanks for all these articles...interesting to hear
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Old Posted Mar 31, 2009, 9:14 PM
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Here's another article on the recent news from the North Shore News

Quote:
The North Shore is set to receive $225 million worth of infrastructure improvements to its ports, rail and roadways in order to bolster the community's role in the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

The funding, announced Friday by Stockwell Day, federal Minister of International Trade and the Asia Pacific Gateway and Premier Gordon Campbell, will go toward five major projects aimed at enhancing the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

"Most commodities imported and exported on the North Shore are directly related to trade with the Asia-Pacific region," Day said in a statement. "Improving transportation infrastructure in this area will create jobs in the community and strengthen Canada's competitive position in international commerce."

The new partnership will see $75 million in federal funds, $62 million from the provincial government and $49.2 million from Port Metro Vancouver.

TransLink is also set to make a $5 million contribution, while the City of North Vancouver has committed $2.7 million and the District of North Vancouver $5.6 million to the project. CN Rail and CP Rail have collectively contributed $23.7 million and supporting terminal operators committed $2.5 million.

"This is an excellent example of how building for the future with sustainable growth can be realized through co-operation among all levels of government and the private sector, said Robin Silvester of Port Metro Vancouver. "As an integral part of the Asia-Pacific Gateway, the North Shore trade area will not only result in significant community and environmental benefits, it will enhance the economic development throughout the region."

According to a release provided by the provincial government, the funding will be split among five major projects:

- A $25.5-million modification of the Brooksbank underpass to accommodate several additional rail tracks necessary for port terminal expansion plans and enable increased rail capacity. Access to Harbourview Park south of the rail tracks will be protected.

- Neptune/Cargill grade separation to eliminate the existing at-grade crossing in the vicinity of Low Level Road and East Third Street in the City of North Vancouver that provides access to the Neptune and Cargill terminals. The $48.3-million project is intended to facilitate rail movements, reduce rail whistle noise and improve road access for workers and emergency services.

- Realignment of Low Level Road, which would realign and elevate the existing Low Level Road to accommodate two new rail tracks essential to port expansion. The 1.5-kilometre, $59.2-million project will address drainage and slope stability issues, reduce train-switching noise, and provide separation between road and rail corridors to improve road safety and security. The realignment should also facilitate construction of the North Shore Spirit Trail.

- A $42.7-million Pemberton Avenue grade separation to provide an overpass across the CN rail line, replacing the existing Pemberton Avenue and Phillip Avenue at-grade crossings. The project should provide traffic relief to a projected 6,500 vehicles per day by 2021. The move should also reduce noise pollution in the local community while allowing the CNR to operate longer trains. Road connections to industries lying south of the rail tracks will also be improved.

- Extension of the lower level route to Marine Drive at an estimated cost of $86.8 million, though only $50 million has been confirmed. Extension of the lower level route from Garden Avenue to Marine Drive near Park Royal Shopping Centre in the District of West Vancouver should provide a two-lane road, including a new bridge over the Capilano River. The project should provide significant traffic relief to the Marine Drive approach to the Lions Gate Bridge.

Some of the projects announced, particularly expansion of the Lower Level Road, were top priorities identified by business leaders at the North Shore Economic Summit organized by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce in February.

At the time, chamber president Naomi Yamamoto called for improvements to transportation infrastructure to better the links between North and West Vancouver and provide jobs in the dwindling economy.

According to government documents, the North Shore handled more than 35 per cent of the cargo coming through the Port of Vancouver in 2007. The cargo was valued at more than $7.7 billion. The same document states North Shore terminals generate an estimated 12,300 jobs in the province, earning more than $600 million in wages each year.
http://www2.canada.com/northshorenew...48c1941824&p=1

Is this going to affect the road through the reservation at all? I'd assume so if there's going to be a new bridge over the Capliano. I drive that road to get anywhere and that intersection in the reserve is the only thing stopping it from being a super fast route.
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Old Posted Apr 1, 2009, 1:20 AM
amor de cosmos amor de cosmos is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinion View Post
Is this going to affect the road through the reservation at all? I'd assume so if there's going to be a new bridge over the Capliano. I drive that road to get anywhere and that intersection in the reserve is the only thing stopping it from being a super fast route.
the backgrounder spells it out. see reply #8.


Quote:
New Westminster News Leader
Port Metro Vancouver to purchase old Queensborough mill site

By Chris Bryan - New Westminster News Leader
Published: March 31, 2009 11:38 AM
Updated: March 31, 2009 4:12 PM

A former mill property in Queensborough could soon be used by Port Metro Vancouver as a distribution centre to pack and unpack shipping containers.

The port has an agreement to purchase the International Forest Products Limited (Interfor) mill site for $30.1 million. The agreement was announced Monday, and is subject to the port obtaining final approval from the federal Minister of Transport. The deal is expected to close by the fall.

Tom Winkler from the port said they have been acquiring properties it will need over the long term, and pointed to a provincial study last year citing a need for 2,700 acres of "port supportive" land in the Lower Mainland in the next 25 years.

"Long term there's going to be a huge requirement for industrial lands," said Winkler, the company's chief strategic development officer, adding that currently there's only about 600 acres of land either suitable or available for a change in use.

The Interfor property would account for about 50 of those acres.

The property is at 501 Boyd St., which is on the east side of the Queensborough Bridge, facing Poplar Island. It encompasses about one kilometre of riverfront.

Interfor's mill, which had 110 employees, closed in December 2007 and the property was put on the market last summer.

Winkler said the property would likely be served by short-sea shipping, meaning containers would be brought by barge from the main terminals at places like Roberts Bank and Burrard Inlet. Once on site, they would be unstuffed and the contents loaded on trucks or trains.

"Interfor had all the attributes we like—access to water, rail and highway," Winkler said.

Faced with the closure of several mills and other industrial operations in recent years, the City of New Westminster has been working to preserve what remains of the industrial land base.

In the Braid industrial area near Coquitlam, the former Canfor mill site was also sold to Port Metro Vancouver, just last year.

For New West city council, the concern with purchases made by government agencies such as the port is that money could be lost in taxation. If the Interfor mill were still running, the city would have received about $400,000 this year. As a port-run property, the city would receive a grant in lieu of taxes.

Winkler said the amount would be the same as if a private company were to conduct the same activities on the site.

A residential high rise development might bring more taxes, he said, but it would also require the city to provide more services and amenities.

Another concern with this type of operation would be the loss of potential public access to the waterfront.

Winkler acknowledged that it's unlikely.

"From a safety aspect, and from a security aspect, it's almost impossible to get on a port site without a pass."

This story will be updated as more information comes available.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/business/42156127.html
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Old Posted Apr 1, 2009, 2:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amor de cosmos View Post
the backgrounder spells it out. see reply #8.
So I guess the answer then is yes?

"Extension of the Low Level Route from Garden Avenue to Marine Drive near Park Royal Shopping Centre. This two-lane road, which includes a new bridge over the Capilano River, will provide significant traffic relief to Marine Drive at the Lions Gate bridgehead. The Province of British Columbia has committed $25 million in funding for this project. The Government of Canada is in discussions with the Squamish First Nation and other stakeholders regarding this project."

I find it interesting that this is being talked about now when it looked like the natives were just getting ready to fill up all of their land with houses (was untouched forest for decades).

I'm looking at google maps and having a hard time figuring how how they're going to connect from the Garden Ave intersection to Marine though. Don't they mean Taylor way?

PS "Two-lane" means two lanes in each direction, correct? Sorry for my newbieness.
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  #15  
Old Posted Apr 1, 2009, 2:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinion View Post
So I guess the answer then is yes?

"Extension of the Low Level Route from Garden Avenue to Marine Drive near Park Royal Shopping Centre. This two-lane road, which includes a new bridge over the Capilano River, will provide significant traffic relief to Marine Drive at the Lions Gate bridgehead. The Province of British Columbia has committed $25 million in funding for this project. The Government of Canada is in discussions with the Squamish First Nation and other stakeholders regarding this project."
that's what i meant

Quote:
I find it interesting that this is being talked about now when it looked like the natives were just getting ready to fill up all of their land with houses (was untouched forest for decades).

I'm looking at google maps and having a hard time figuring how how they're going to connect from the Garden Ave intersection to Marine though. Don't they mean Taylor way?

PS "Two-lane" means two lanes in each direction, correct? Sorry for my newbieness.
all I know is what is posted above. maybe if the negotiations are still ongoing those details aren't worked out yet.
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  #16  
Old Posted Apr 6, 2009, 8:07 PM
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short clip of the recent announcemnet on the north shore
http://www.multimedia.gov.bc.ca/EN/n...cture_funding/
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  #17  
Old Posted Apr 8, 2009, 3:47 PM
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Quote:
Slowing economy squeezes local port container traffic
Early-year sales result in 25-per-cent decline from 2008

Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Port Metro Vancouver is taking a hit from the slowing economy, with container traffic down sharply for the first months of 2009.

A port official reported Monday that through the end of February, the number of full containers going through stood at 270,226, down 25 per cent or about 89,000 units from the 360,058 for the same period last year.

"If people aren't buying, then cargo's not moving," the port's chief operating officer, Chris Badger, said in an interview. "January and February was a very steep drop. And every year for the past decade, we've seen growth."

etc
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/...3b6b80&k=24742
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  #18  
Old Posted May 7, 2009, 12:36 AM
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Richmond Review
Gilmore farm sold to Port Metro Vancouver
By Matthew Hoekstra - Richmond Review
Published: May 06, 2009 10:43 AM
Updated: May 06, 2009 10:56 AM

A vast expanse of farmland leading to the industrial lands of East Richmond has been bought by Port Metro Vancouver as a "strategic" property.

Tom Corsie confirmed the port paid approximately $20 million for a 200-acre (81-hectare) property known as the Gilmore farm.

The property is bisected by No. 8 Road and abuts the port's existing 700-acre (283-hectare) site along the Fraser River's South Arm.

Corsie, vice-president of infrastructure and development, said there is no development plan for the property and it will continue to be farmed through a lease agreement.

Container traffic to Lower Mainland ports is expected to continue to grow, but Corsie said the port is still mulling whether it will need the land.

"For the foreseeable future, it is a farm, it's going to stay a farm, and we have no plans at this point in time to convert it into any other use."

If it does decide to develop the land, the port, a federal agency, likely wouldn't require approval from the Agricultural Land Commission or the city.

Corsie noted it would still involve the provincial farmland regulator in any development plans.

"Everything that we do down there, the benefits are shared between the port and the city. With the Agricultural Land Commission, we wouldn't dare do anything without their involvement," he said.

Port Metro Vancouver is responsible for the operation of the properties of the combined Fraser River Port Authority, North Fraser Port Authority and Vancouver Port Authority. The corporation is accountable to the federal minister of Transport.

Port Metro Vancouver leases its property to various developers, who build warehouses for distributors and importers. Its original site still has room for future development.

Two private landowners own a further 125 acres of neighbouring industrial land combined.

According to Corsie, the Pattison Group owns another piece of undeveloped agricultural land next to the Gilmore farm.

The Gilmore farm has been the subject of past requests to remove it from the Agricultural Land Reserve. A proposal for a horse racetrack was also once floated for the site, according to Coun. Harold Steves.

The veteran councillor called the port's purchase "monumental," saying it's the start of a major attack on farmland throughout the region and part of a plan to ultimately industrialize Delta, Richmond and Surrey.

Steves said he once saw a map produced by the Ministry of Transportation that showed a bridge connecting Delta's Tilbury Island to Richmond's port lands along No. 8 Road—the location of Gilmore farm. The road would then travel through Richmond's cranberry fields and onto Boundary Road in Burnaby, he said.

"It's a plot, not just one farm gone, we're looking at all of East Richmond going," said Steves, who is in the midst of compiling information. "We found out about it because of what happened in Richmond. But once I started investigating, it's happening throughout the entire region."

The future of industrial land in the region has been a hot topic at Metro Vancouver in recent years. Steves said the act that brought in the ALR in 1973 also provided for a similar reserve for industrial land, but subsequent governments never created it.

"Now we've got to the crunch where we're out of industrial land and everybody wants to change the existing industrial to some kind of commercial and high-tech, and the only place to go for industrial land then is the ALR."
http://www.bclocalnews.com/business/44468912.html
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  #19  
Old Posted May 7, 2009, 3:57 AM
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  #20  
Old Posted Jun 12, 2009, 11:04 PM
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Quote:
Minister Day Launches Advertisements to Promote Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway
June 12, 2009
No. 159

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today launched an international advertising campaign promoting Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway as the fastest, most reliable way to transport goods between Asia and North America.

“Our economic prosperity depends on moving goods quickly and efficiently around the world,” said Minister Day. “We are working hard with our partners throughout Asia and North America to promote the benefits of using Canada’s transportation system to move products from the factory floor to store shelves.

“The Government of Canada has taken a number of important steps to enhance the country’s transportation network. This international ad campaign will help make businesses more aware of the advantages of moving their goods through our seaports and airports, and on our highways and railways.”

Beginning June 15, advertisements will appear featuring the slogan “With Canada’s Pacific Gateway, everything gets there sooner than you think.” The ads will be placed in marine and air shipping trade publications in the United States, Japan, Korea and China, including Journal of Commerce, Logistics Management, Air Cargo World, Payload Asia, China’s Foreign Trade and Maritime Press. The ads will appear in publications and as online web banners at intervals over the next 10 months.

During this global economic downturn, the Government of Canada recognizes that trade is more important than ever. Efficient and sustainable gateways are crucial to facilitating global trade, and the government is taking action to make Canada more competitive in international trade.

Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway offers significant advantages:

• $15 billion in public- and private-sector investment

• up to 60 hours’ sailing time advantage over other North American ports

• container terminal dwell times of as little as 30 hours

• train transit time of less than 100 hours to Chicago from Prince Rupert and Vancouver

• up to four days saved in transit time

• combined container capacity of 3.6 million at Prince Rupert and Vancouver

• three Class 1 railways providing service to Canada and the United States

• Canadian airports located within one day’s drive from more than two thirds of North America’s population

• Canadian airports offering efficient and reliable service, without congestion

For more information on Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway, visit: www.pacificgateway.gc.ca/international.
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do...dex&nid=458629
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