THE City of Surrey hosted a public forum Tuesday evening to discuss rail traffic safety and possible solutions with Surrey and White Rock residents. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts cited numerous safety issues with Surrey’s current 15KM waterfront rail corridor including risks of landslides, increased frequency of trains, and the transport of dangerous goods through environmentally sensitive and densely populated areas. Watts introduced several options for possible realignment.
“Surrey’s waterfront rail corridor was built 100 years ago during which time the community has changed significantly,” said Watts. “There are safety issues that need to be resolved. We need to review all potential options, perform our due diligence, and identify the best solutions that will mitigate any serious safety concerns.”
“The existing rail corridor is densely populated on one side with the ocean on the other,” said Councillor Tom Gill, Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This creates safety issues both from a human and environmental perspective that need to be addressed. We want to hear from the community to gather feedback and garner support to move this important initiative forward.”
Surrey’s current 15km of rail track runs along its waterfront passing through the communities of Douglas, four km through White Rock, then into Ocean Park, and Crescent Beach before heading across Mud Bay and joining the main line at Colebrook Road rail corridor. Mayor Watts introduced the idea of repurposing the current corridor as a seawall for community recreation.
Residents and other stakeholders can view the forum’s presentation, and complete a feedback survey by visiting www.surrey.ca/participate
