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Letters to the editor | Facebook Online Community Site | *CAMPAIGN BLOG*  Rail For The Valley asked South of Fraser candidates where they stand on light rail. (click here) With the election campaign now in full swing, it's time to get some concrete answers from the candidates and keep Rail for the Valley on the agenda. Click here for a very incomplete list of All-candidates meetings in the Fraser Valley. Check back for updates. There WILL be more meetings posted as they are announced. (E-mail railforthevalley@gmail.com, or post a comment to the blog, to add a meeting to this list.) If you can go to just one meeting in your area, and ask a question about where the candidates stand on Rail for the Valley... with many of us acting together in doing this, it will make a difference in this election. Click here to read more Rail for the Valley On Saturday, April 11, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, join with others
across the region in hoisting banners above Highway 1 for sensible,
sustainable transportation solutions... on overpasses all the way from
West Vancouver to Chilliwack.
Help
make some history! Read all the updates here. And tell everyone you know... When: Thursday March 5, 7:00pm Where: UFV - Abbotsford campus, Building A, room 225. If you live in Abbotsford and want to get involved in our Society but couldn't make it out to Chilliwack, now's your chance! The next meeting is at UFV in Abbotsford. All members, and those who wish to become members, are welcome to attend. This Wednesday, the provincial government announced, out of the blue, an entirely new Port Mann bridge to be built. It will not be a twinned bridge, but a single 10-lane span, and the existing bridge will be torn down, only 45 years into its 75 year lifespan. There will be no light rail component on the bridge when it is forecast to be completed in 2013. The project's estimated cost is $3.3 billion. (If recent megaprojects are any indication, this cost will likely rise substantially.) Click here for the story from the Province Then, you might want to read these editorials by light rail expert Malcolm Johnston, a vocal supporter of Rail for the Valley: "What Valley politicians and voters should keep in mind that the $1.8 billion dollar difference, from the original twinned bridge concept to mega-bridge, would fund a deluxe electrified Vancouver to Chilliwack interurban, with a new Fraser River Rail Bridge, independent LRT lines in Surrey, Langley, and Abbotsford, serving the Abbotsford International Airport! Premier Campbell and Kevin Falcon have effectively given a 'Trudeau' style salute to all valley residents and taxpayers." -Malcolm Johnston Government spin that the bridge is designed to accomodate light rail 'sometime in the future' is just that - spin. Another word is 'deception.' Never in history has this type of bridge been built, and then at a later date had lanes taken away to accomodate light rail. It appears the BC government is trying to deceive the people of BC, who will likely be expected to pay the equivalent of about $1000 for every man, woman, and child in the province for this single project. (Every premier wants a legacy, I suppose.) While the Pattullo bridge and the Fraser River rail bridge are in true need of replacement, this project will leave the province bankrupt of money for these, and other, important and necessary improvements. Commuters are supposed to cheer the temporary relief of traffic congestion on the bridge, while the light rail needs of the Fraser Valley, and the united pleas of residents across the valley, are completely ignored. Friends, we can not stand for this! What to do right now: Immediately flood our newspapers with Letters to the editor, cc'ing your elected representatives and opposition candidates. The government has got to hear the message, loud and clear, from the people of the Fraser Valley, before any contracts for this project are signed. (Click here for newspaper email addresses) Please pass this on to others who might be interested. More action to follow. Thank you for doing your part... John Buker Friends Of Rail For The Valley gathering Time: Thursday, Feb. 5, 7:00pm UPDATE: Friends of Rail for the Valley meeting in Chilliwack last night Friends Of Rail For The Valley gathering in Chilliwack Place: Lions Club Hall, 45580 Spadina Avenue, just Nort of Evergreen Hall, in Chilliwack We will form a society and plan the next stages of our campaign. Everyone is welcome! The movement has come an incredibly long way in the last couple
years. This movement is about building a comprehensive rail and transit network for the entire Fraser Valley. This Thursday is a great opportunity to get more involved. Lots of new content on the Rail for the Valley CAMPAIGN BLOG. Check it out... December 11: Rail for the Valley's CAMPAIGN BLOG is now up, still in its earliest stages: http://railforthevalley.wordpress.com Check back often! If you would like to become a contributor, please send us an email. November 29: The BC Ministry of Transportation has announced a Fraser Valley transit study, to be completed in late 2009. Click here to view the government press release. Rail For The Valley is very disappointed with both the timeline and the scope of this study, promised first in January. Since we have not yet been consulted, we may only assume from public releases the intent of this study. Here is initial reaction from John Buker. And good coverage in the Province newspaper: Valley rail advocates say enough with the studies (The Province, November 30, 2008) From a reading of the Ministry's press release, the study seems designed to simply recycle what the Ministry of Transportation has tried to have us believe for years, which is that the Fraser Valley doesn't have the density for a passenger rail service. For $400,000 of taxpayer money, we could do a lot better. Based on the public will apparent recently in local elections, the provincial government needs to listen, and proceed with a demonstration project and an actual implementation study. We still have limited information, but as things stand now, there is every reason to be skeptical. November 29: TransLink believes that "LRT's time has come" in the South Fraser. Found at the end of this Letter to the editor by TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie is the following encouraging statement: "Looking ahead to rapid transit expansion South of Fraser, TransLink joins many who believe the type of system chosen should reflect the needs of the public and its 'fit' with the community." As such, SkyTrain, while proven to be an extremely efficient way to
move large numbers of people, is not in any way, shape, or form assumed
to be the only choice. Indeed, we join with many, including Mr. Johnson,
in believing that LRT's time has come. This signals a huge move in opinion on the part of TransLink! Up until now, they have been extremely negative on Light Rail Transit, favouring SkyTrain expansion South of the Fraser. Hopeful words. November 26: One week ago, a very negative opinion piece Why the Interurban won't work" by Kurt Langmann of the Aldergrove Star, was published in newspapers across the eastern Fraser Valley. A week later, some responses of Rail for the Valley advocates are published: Readers defend Interurban Congratulations to all winning candidates! Particularly noteworthy are three newly elected mayors, in Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, who are all highly supportive of Interurban light rail: Rick Green in Langley Township, George Peary in Abbotsford, and Sharon Gaetz in Chilliwack! "Interurban service should be fast tracked, at least achieving excursion runs within the next couple of years. There are considerable political obstacles to over come as well as a few physical." "Immediately after the election and being sworn in I would take steps to form a "Mayors Task Force for Community Rail for South of the Fraser". The considerable political obstacles will have to be broken down through a political force. We have a provincial election next May, the government understands a political united voice." -Rick Green, the newly elected Mayor of Langley Township NOV.15 VOTING GUIDE RAIL FOR THE VALLEY ELECTION QUESTIONNAIRE
Click on your city to read results in your area Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Langley City | Langley Township | Surrey here are the very strongest candidates on passenger rail in each area: Keep in mind, there are a number of other very strong candidates for passenger rail. We encourage you to read the Questionnaire responses, and do further research on the candidates before voting. Surrey: Langley Township: Langley City: Abbotsford: Chilliwack: The past few municipal elections have suffered from extremely low
voter turnout. When this happens, politicians can become
arrogant. This time, let's VOTE PASSENGER RAIL ON NOV 15 (pass it on) Monday Nov. 10, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Abbotsford Arts Centre Addition, 2329 Crescent Way, Abbotsford The theme is transportation and the environment. Rail For The Valley will have a big presence... don't miss this!) From the media release: Suffering from ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION? Not sure if you're ready for a three year relationship with someone you don't even know? Make a date with all the candidates on Monday, November 10th, 7 - 9 PM, Abbotsford Arts Centre Addition, 2329 Crescent Way, Abbotsford. Find a candidate that's right for you. This event, called "Speed Dating Politicians" allows voters a unique opportunity to interview all the candidates, one on one. No speeches, no microphones, just stimulating conversation. Candidates each have their own table/booth, which they are encouraged to "personalize" in any way they like, situated around the perimeter of the hall. You are invited to circulate, talking with any candidate you choose. Abbotsford Brochure | Chilliwack Brochure All Candidates Meetings Chilliwack: Thursday Nov. 6 - 7 p.m. - hosted by UFV student union society at the Chilliwack UFV campus, in the cafeteria in building D. Show up 15 minutes early to meet up with others in Rail For The Valley. Wednesday Nov. 12 - 7 p.m. - hosted by the Downtown Business Improvement Association at Evergreen Hall, 9291 Corbould St. Abbotsford: Monday Nov. 10, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. "Speed Dating Politicians" - Theme: *Transportation and the environment* - Abbotsford Arts Centre Addition, 2329 Crescent Way, Abbotsford Langley Township: Monday Nov. 10 - 7 p.m. - hosted by the Salmon River Enhancement Society, at the Chief Sepass Theatre at the Langley Fine Arts School, 9096 Trattle St. Environment-themed. Langley City: Thursday Nov. 6 - 7 p.m. at HD Stafford School on Grade crescent in Langley City. Surrey: Monday Nov. 10 - 7:00 p.m. - Guildford Community Partners Society Guildford Recreation Centre (Multi-purpose Room) 15105 - 105 Avenue Thursday, Nov. 13 - 1:00 p.m. - Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association Olympia Restaurant, 10257 King George Highway UPDATE: The committee recommendations were accepted. Thank you to everyone who showed up to this meeting! ATTENTION ALL PASSENGER RAIL SUPPORTERS IN ABBOTSFORD AND CHILLIWACK: IMPORTANT ABBOTSFORD COUNCIL MEETING COMING UP (Link to article in the Vancouver Sun) Do you remember the provincial government's $14 billion Transit Plan debacle last winter, when only rapid buses were promised Abbotsford, by 2030? And nothing for Chilliwack? The $14 billion Transit Plan should equate to more than $500 million for Abbotsford, based on population. That works out to $25 million/year, for every year until 2030. At $25 million/year, in 2 years Abbotsford could easily have regular Interurban light rail service. Instead, the only promise was "rapid buses by 2030." Naturally, people were OUTRAGED, and in the fallout, under pressure, the City of Abbotsford formed an Inter-regional Transportation Committee. On THIS MONDAY NOV. 3, Abbotsford's Inter-regional Transportation Committee will report and recommend, among other things, that council support a light rail demonstration project to be in place in time for the Olympics. IT IS VITAL THAT WE SHOW UP IN NUMBERS TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING. We need to not only show support for this recommendation for a demonstration project, but also remind council that this is not nearly enough. Municipal politicians have got to be more forceful in their advocacy if they want the provincial government to do anything. This is the time we send a message. Where: Abbotsford Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser
Way, Abbotsford UPDATE: Our Chilliwack community action meeting was a huge success!
We made the front page of the Chilliwack Progress: Pilot project promoted to revive passenger rail line As well, the Chilliwack Progress is now joining the call for an Interurban pilot project! NEXT UP ABBOTSFORD... (Stay Tuned)
August 12: Opinion piece by Malcolm Johnston, of the Light Rail Committee The need for modern light rail, to connect downtown Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack has never been greater. Increasing population, with increased auto congestion and associated pollution, demands action now, not in 2010, not in 2020.
Look out everybody. Our train is on the way! SATURDAY AUGUST 9, 12:00-5:00pm Douglas Park, 20550 Douglas Crescent in Langley "BC's country sweetheart and Canadian Idol Karen-Lee Batten will show her support for bringing passenger rail for the valley and sing for you Aug. 9th". From 12:00 Noon -5:00pm, Rail for the Valley advocates and all the major advocacy groups will be combining resources and time to give you a real treat. The day will be filled with music and entertainment, food, and short speeches from light rail advocates, politicians and community leaders. The various participants will have tents and literature as well. VALTAC also has an important announcement to make. It'll be a great time. Hope you can come by! UPDATE: We came in 2nd place! Doing this well will help our campaign immensely! THANKS FOR VOTING! (link) It would be great publicity for Rail For The Valley to win the Campbell Cash Campaign. It's a very close race, and we are currently in 2nd place! Don't know what to do with your $100 Climate Action cheque? Why not put some of that money toward helping achieve passenger rail service for the Fraser Valley? (Rail For The Valley is not a registered charity, so we can not issue tax receipts.) July 22: Chilliwack Farmer's Market update from Graham Dalton: There was a tremendous amount of positive feed back, lots of people stopped to talk. A lot of people remember the trains that ran from Chilliwack to the Expo 86 site. It's funny that the government did it for that, but not for the people in the valley. Carbon tax and the crowded freeway were mentioned as more reasons for a train. All in all, a very positive time. We sold some buttons, bumper stickers and t-shirts. We're planning to go back this Friday, so we need to ask for some volunteers from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. -Graham Time: Friday July 25, 3:00pm - 8:00pm.
July 9: UPDATE FROM VAL, from the Abbotsford Berry Beat Festival... Great job, all of you! Rail for the Valley is now well-publicized in Abbotsford, thanks to all of your efforts last Friday (despite the wind) and Saturday (despite the rain). We gave out hundreds of handouts -- had to reprint twice. We made a total of $97.12 in button donations, general donations, the sale of stickers at $1.00 and Caboose Juice (various berry flavours), also at $1.00. These proceeds will be ploughed back into the RftV Campaign. And were people in favour of Light Rail? Well... only about 98, 99 per cent of them! Berry Beat festival in Abbotsford on July 4-5 (Friday-Saturday). Rail For The Valley will have a booth at the Abbotsford Berry Beat festival... "The 27th annual Berry Beat Festival happens July 4 from noon to 9 p.m. and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Abbotsford. The family friendly street festival will feature plenty of fresh berries from local fields, dancers, musicians, artists painting "en plein aire" and other live entertainers and activities. Admission and parking are free." -Abbotsford Times John Vissers at john.vissers@gmail.com. Your help is much appreciated. July 3: A response to the government's Carbon Tax July 3: Jeff Rubin, of CIBC World Markets, is predicting gas prices will rise another 70% from their current record in only 2 years. Read the article from the Calgary Herald (link) (excerpt) "Rubin, CIBC's chief economist, has made a series of bullish and headline-grabbing oil forecasts so far this decade. His bold predictions have essentially panned out." Here is the link to the CIBC World Markets study. If Rubin is right again, the effect will be extraordinary. Alarm bells should be ringing in governments everywhere. If they are not, government is not doing its job. People need an alternative. Berry Beat festival in Abbotsford on July 4-5 (Friday-Saturday). Rail For The Valley will have a booth at the Abbotsford Berry Beat festival... "The 27th annual Berry Beat Festival happens July 4 from noon to 9 p.m. and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Abbotsford. The family friendly street festival will feature plenty of fresh berries from local fields, dancers, musicians, artists painting "en plein aire" and other live entertainers and activities. Admission and parking are free." -Abbotsford Times John Vissers at john.vissers@gmail.com. Your help is much appreciated. Rail for the Valley - Abbotsford meetup Rail For The Valley - Abbotsford MEETS ON CANADA DAY, Tuesday July 1, to help plan the summer campaign. If you want to get more involved in the campaign, and meet other people who feel strongly about this issue, this is a great chance. The campaign is what we make it. The Fraser Valley needs passenger rail service NOW! Where: Ethical Addictions Coffee House, #14, 2047 Sumas Way (behind the Husky station) at Marshall Road, Abbotsford. When: Tuesday July 1, at 7:00pm We hope you can make it! Rail for the Valley - Chilliwack meetup Rail For The Valley - Chilliwack MEETS THIS SATURDAY, June 28, to plan our summer campaign! Where: The Royal Cafe (at the historic Royal Hotel in Downtown
Chilliwack) When: Saturday June 28, at 10:00am Every individual is important. Come and share your ideas for the campaign! With gas prices going through the roof, this is an important time for our campaign to bring passenger rail back to the Fraser Valley... We hope you can make it. (There's plenty of parking in the parking lot behind the hotel.) South Fraser On Trax and SmartGrowth BC present a transportation and sustainability workshop for the public Kwantlen University - Langley campus 20901 Langley Bypass For more details, click here. June 11: Rail For The Valley is participating in the Green your Campbell Cash contest, an initiative of The Tyee and others to showcase BC-based climate action projects. View our project here, spread the word, and remember to vote! June 5: Rail For The Valley responds to Minister Falcon, calls for a genuine rail study: (EXCERPT) "We call on the province to display some transparency, by conducting a genuine implementation study that involves Rail For The Valley, the light rail groups, and the public, instead of continuing to follow their own agenda." (Click here for the full response) (Click here to read Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon's May 16 letter to Langley newspapers.) June 3: Rail for the Valley Newsletter June 3: ANNOUNCING: South Fraser On Trax and SmartGrowth BC will be putting on a transportation and sustainability workshop for the public at Kwantlen University - Langley campus, on Wednesday June 18, from 6pm to 9pm. Details to come. For anyone interested in getting involved with South Fraser On Trax (a new transportation and sustainability group based in Langley), their next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 10 from 7pm to 9pm at the Township of Langley Hall. Contact Nathan Pachal (nathanp@sfot.info) for more details. May 30: Have a look... Rail for the Valley representatives May 29: Ben West, a strong Rail for the Valley campaigner and representative for the Wilderness Committee, asks us to consider, and spread far and wide, this message regarding the Gateway Project (a BC government plan that includes heavy highway expansion, but completely ignores passenger rail for the Fraser Valley). (Click here to view). May 23: Have a look here at what our newspapers think about rail for the valley! "It was the clever boys in Vancouver and Victoria who killed the Interurban transit system that served a far less densely populated Fraser Valley half a century ago. It's long past time to correct that mistake." -Langley Advance "The most efficient and "green" way to move large numbers of people is via light-rail transit. Given the population growth in the Fraser Valley, this transit option should be a no-brainer." -The Province "If the government is to meet its goal of cutting air contaminants by 4.7 million tonnes in the next 12 years, the revival of the interurban line will be one of many initiatives aimed at getting commuters out of their cars." -Abbotsford News "Now is the time, when our population still allows it, to finally look at light rail. We have the rail ready and the cost of getting it up and running would be a fraction of the cost of building more SkyTrain routes... Not only are we convinced that rail is the best solution for the Fraser Valley, we are convinced that it will be used." -Abbotsford Times "One of the biggest disappointments in Victoria's new transit plan is its failure to include the possibility of light-rail passenger service -- along the old Inter-Urban rail route from Vancouver to Chilliwack. In our view, any transit plan that doesn't include such an environmentally-sound option is deficient to some degree." -The Province "Where is the much-needed light rail for the Fraser Valley?" -Surrey Leader "We can learn from history. Rail-based transit will work in the Fraser Valley." -Langley Times "There's far too much foot-dragging when it comes to the issue of a proper transportation infrastructure for the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. Maybe the politicians need to take a load off and hop on the train." -Chilliwack Times April 28: Rail for the Valley is endorsed by the Province newspaper! Here's the editorial. Planning for rail up the Fraser Valley is plain common sense It's been proven time and again in public transit that, if you build it, they will come. Just ask any of those Greater Vancouver commuters crammed like sardines in SkyTrain cars during the morning or evening rush hour. This is happening now despite arguments made during the planning of the existing rapid-transit system that not enough folks would use such a service. Now, we're hearing similar criticisms from those who oppose using the old Inter-Urban route for light-rail service in the Fraser Valley. There's not enough population density, they say. The folks displaying this attitude clearly have a hard time seeing beyond their noses. Transit must be planned in a long-term context. And all growth projections for south-of-Fraser communities, from Delta to Chilliwack, agree that this region alone will one day have a population larger than that of the whole of Metro Vancouver today. Surrey already has the largest number of children enrolled in K-12 schools of any municipality in the province. And its population is expected to surpass that of Vancouver in the next 20 years. Also, the 18-24 demographic in the Fraser Valley is growing at six times the provincial average. The most efficient and "green" way to move large numbers of people is via light-rail transit. Given the population growth in this region, this transit option should be a no-brainer. So, build it and they will come. Just ask the sardines. -The Province, April 27, 2008 Bring back passenger rail and improve public transit for the valley NOW! April 26, 2008 UPDATE: The rally is in the news! When: Saturday April 26, 10am-4pm. See schedule below. Where: Municipal Hall, Township of Langley, 20338 - 65 Avenue, Langley, BC VALTAC and the Rail for the Valley campaign are hosting a Transportation Forum/Rally on Saturday April 26 in Langley to SEND A MESSAGE TO TRANSPORTATION MINISTER KEVIN FALCON that we need better transit NOW, including passenger rail service for the Fraser Valley. We need to let him know that his current plan of Skytrain for Langley by 2031 is NOT ACCEPTABLE. Regular passenger rail, on the other hand, could be up and running along the Interurban Route in less than 2 years. There will be expert speakers on hand, as well as a Transit Lab workshop you can participate in hosted by SPEC, so come with all your transportation questions and ideas. Schedule: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Transit 101 workshop Panel speakers: Stephen Rees - Transportation economist and regional
planner It'll be a good time, and there will be snacks! Please do what you can to let others know about this. March 25: (Langley) *Congratulations to Langley councillors Kim Richter, Steve Ferguson, Jordan Bateman, and Charlie Fox* for opposing Translink's current South of Fraser Area (SoFA) transit plan to 2031, which makes no mention of light rail. Councillor Kim Richter said the plan should include a corridor for light rail transit and also asked council to delay a decision on endorsing it, until the council and VALTAC (Valley Transportation Advisory Committee) saw the completed Community Rail Study. Councillor Steve Ferguson pointed out that a lot of money is being spent in Vancouver and Burnaby, and of course, the Olympics are coming. "But that's not a reason for the Fraser Valley to suffer." Councillor Jordan Bateman said he sees no consideration for light rail to the Township, and with a time frame of 2031, his 15-month-old daughter will have a 15-month old child, before light rail is a reality. "This is just not good enough." Councillor Charlie Fox also opposed the plan. Mayor Kurt Alberts, and councillors Bob Long, Mel Kositsky, Grant Ward and Howie Vickberg supported the plan with some conditions. (link to story) March 20: (Surrey) *Congratulations go to Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts* for the following statement of hers, spoken as part of her State of the City 2008 address: "I for one am a firm believer that instead of SkyTrain expansion in Surrey we should be looking at At Grade Rail. At Grade Rail is significantly cheaper, easier to build and much more aesthetically pleasing than Sky Train. Surrey cannot wait until 2020 for improved rail transit. At Grade Rail can be completed much faster. I have great confidence in the potential of At Grade Rail, and I am currently having City staff analyze this option so that we can move it forward." (link) If you would like to send a personal note of encouragement to Mayor Watts, click here. March 7: (Chilliwack) On Feb. 26, in both local papers, Chilliwack mayor Clint Hames wrote at length against Rail for the Valley. Here is the article. Today, edited versions of the Rail for the Valley response were published: Getting the facts straight on Rail for the Valley (Chilliwack Times), and Better transit options needed (Chilliwack Progress). The responses published in both local papers have been edited for space. (Long, but worth the read!) February 18: ATTENTION ABBOTSFORD RESIDENTS From the Abbotsford News: City gauging public support on Interurban rail line revival "Abbotsford's civic politicians are keen to get the city on track by gauging public support on a possible restart of the former Fraser Valley Interurban railway line." "City councillors voted this week to form a committee that will determine whether an upgraded interurban system would be popular with Abbotsford residents, to help connect them with other Fraser Valley communities..." We need to let Abbotsford's city council know that there is a tremendous amount of public support for Interurban rail line revival! Please e-mail your support for the revival of the Interurban rail line to: Councillor Lynn Harris: lharris@abbotsford.ca You might also at this time consider writing a letter to the newspapers showing your support (start your letter "Re: City gauging public support on Interurban rail line revival, Abbotsford News, Feb. 16") Abbotsford News: editor@abbynews.com
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Great coverage in the local papers: Here's an article about the forum from the Province newspaper: Light-rail
service pushed for Valley at public meeting. One clarification:
While Translink's study pegged the cost of a deluxe double-tracked rail
line at $27 million/km, a study done by UMA for the city of Surrey has
found that community passenger rail could be implemented for $6
million/km with service every 15 minutes, compared with $233 million/km
for the UBC Skytrain extension. In fact, experts say that a basic
passenger rail service extending from Surrey to Chilliwack would cost as
little as 1 km of new Skytrain.
Where: Lions Club Hall, 45580 Spadina Avenue, just North of Evergreen Hall, in Chilliwack When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2:00pm-4:00pm Admission: Free (donations welcome) Everything you wanted to know about passenger rail for the Fraser Valley but were afraid to ask... Don't rely on second-hand information. Come and hear from the experts. Three extremely knowledgeable individuals from the Fraser Valley discuss their views on the feasibility of passenger rail service for Chilliwack and the Valley. Each speaker will give a short presentation. Following the presentations, discussion will turn to questions from the audience.
Speakers include:
**************************************************************** January 23: UCFV's Environment Club presents Gateway debate: a public Forum on Sustainable Transportation for the Fraser Valley. When: 7:00pm Wednesday January 23 Debate format + Q&A. Speakers include: Join students, faculty, politicians and the community for a spirited discussion on transit issues in the Fraser Valley. Bring your questions and concerns. Come and support the Rail for the Valley movement! UPDATE: Take a look at some of the press coverage! January 21: The view of The Province newspaper: One of the biggest disappointments in Victoria's new transit plan is its failure to include the possibility of light-rail passenger service -- along the old Inter-Urban rail route from Vancouver to Chilliwack. In our view, any transit plan that doesn't include such an environmentally-sound option is deficient to some degree. -editorial, The Province January 21: In response to these words from Chilliwack mayor Clint Hames, An Open Letter from Rail for the Valley to Chilliwack Mayor Clint Hames. January 19: Rail for the Valley - Chilliwack gathering Lions Club Hall, this coming Saturday morning at 10:00am. We'll be discussing everyone's ideas for the campaign, including hosting a possible speaker for an event in the near future. We'll also see how we can help out our friends in Abbotsford with the big upcoming UCFV panel discussion on transportation alternatives. If you want to get involved in the Chilliwack campaign, now is the perfect time. Things are gearing up! (The Lions Club Hall is located at 45580 Spadina Avenue, just North of Evergreen Hall.) January 17: meetup event - Rail for the Valley Abbotsford 7:00pm There'll be a meetup event at ethical addictions coffee house in Abbotsford, bringing together people interested in bringing long-needed passenger rail service back to the Fraser Valley. On the agenda - Rail for the Valley preparations ahead of the big January 23 panel discussion at UCFV on transportation alternatives for the Fraser Valley. Details on the Jan. 23 event to come soon. We need to do all we can to make the event at UCFV a success! Everyone can help out with this. Also on the agenda - any ideas for the campaign, open-ended discussion. free flow of ideas, get to know each other, and just have a good time... January 14: The provincial government has unveiled its new transit plan. Buses for Langley. Nothing for the valley east of Langley. The response from Rail for the Valley January 11: The new (MASSIVE) shipment of stickers has arrived. Your choice, orange or blue. ***Join the STICKER CAMPAIGN!***
January 10: Rail for the Valley - Flood the Papers - January 10 Letters are here, click to read! Rail for the Valley - November 29 - Chilliwack Gathering There'll be a Chilliwack Rail for the Valley gathering at the Lions Club Hall, this coming Thursday at 7pm. If you're interested in getting a bit more involved in the campaign, we encourage you to come out. We're going to generate a lot of ideas and it'll be a good time. We'll also have stickers available from our STICKER CAMPAIGN.... We can use this time to see what we would like to do as individuals as well as a group and still have some fun! The Lions Club Hall is located at 45580 Spadina Avenue, just North of Evergreen Hall. Hope to see some of you there, John. Friday, November 23: Thanks to all of our submissions to the Budget Consultation Committee as part of last month's FLOOD THE PREMIER event, the need for Rail for the Valley was strongly mentioned in the Committee's report! Here are some excerpts: "Our on-line consultations, in particular, highlighted several options for rapid transit in the growing communities south of the Fraser River, including Skytrain extensions, a light-rail system following Highway 1, and commuter rail along the old interurban tracks in the Fraser Valley." "Many explained that [light rail] would not only ease traffic congestion, but it would also support the government initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." "Some submissions suggested that the twinned Port Mann Bridge and Highway 1 widening should have a light rail component constructed from the outset; others proposed a commuter rail system using the old interurban rail corridor or an expanded SkyTrain option to service Surrey and Langley." A proposal: "For Budget 2008, we propose the government immediately plan rapid implementation of a modern clean-air interurban passenger rail service for the Fraser Valley, connecting South-of-Fraser communities from Chilliwack to Surrey, with a target date for initial service by the end of 2009, and a plan to subsequently extend service over the Fraser River into Vancouver." (proposal from Rail for the Valley) "Bearing in mind the message that the government must continue to manage the debt-to-GDP ratio, we strongly urge the government to work closely with local communities, regional and federal governments, and the private sector to expedite the construction of much-needed rapid transit options in Metro Vancouver." Click here to read the full report. Tuesday, November 20: Announcing the Rail for the Valley STICKER CAMPAIGN.
Imagine driving down the highway in traffic and seeing RAIL FOR THE VALLEY on every third car... Saturday-Sunday, November 10-11: Trains 2007 Train Show (Burnaby). We had a table set up, and collected some signatures. Thanks to those who helped set things up!
Thursday, November 8: Rally for Rail - SFU (click here for pictures) Monday, October 15: Rail for the Valley - FLOOD THE PREMIER! (click for details) October 13-14: Mt. Cheam Lions Club Train Show. We will have a table set up at the Train Show going on at Heritage Park in Chilliwack this Saturday and Sunday. If you like trains, come by and check it out! UPDATE: Had a very successful time at Heritage Park in Chilliwack this weekend. It was a model railway show sponsored by the Lions' Club. We got a table for free and the railway visuals supplied by Terry Lyster. We were able to have at least 700 people sign a petition demanding rail service to the valley, which will be forwarded to the Premier. As well, we signed up another 40 people for the Chilliwack 'cell' and informed at least 900 people about the Flood to the Premier on Monday. All this came from 14 people who showed up for the first face-to-face meeting last Wednesday, using Terry Lyster as a draw. All in all, a really great start.
Thanks to everyone. Wednesday, October 10: Rail for Chilliwack - brainstorming session. How are we going to get passenger rail out to Chilliwack? Following Chilliwack's recent successful rally for rail, there will be an open-ended brainstorming session at Graham Dalton's house, Wednesday October 10, 7pm, to plan the Chilliwack campaign's next steps in getting passenger rail service. Terry Lyster, of VALTAC, will be in attendance, offering his knowledge and insight. For directions and RSVP, phone Graham at 604-316-6774 or 604-823-6774. *Make sure you ask for directions!* Friday October 5: An invitation from John Vissers, of Abbotsford: "Movie Night, Friday 7:00 PM at Legal Grounds Coffee House, 33775 Essendene (old downtown Abbotsford). I show short films with an environmental theme, this month's is "The End of Suburbia" a Canadian film exploring sustainability and transportation issues. After the film we will have a discussion; Gateway and light rail/bus transit issues." October 3, reported on News1130: Harcourt: Build rapid transit to Fraser Valley now
Saturday, Sept. 29: Hello Al, Goodbye Gateway - RAIL FOR THE VALLEY contingent! (click here for pictures)
UPDATE on the Rally for Rail - Chilliwack! Thanks to everyone who participated in the rally. We had around 100 people turn out! Click here for some pictures. September 23: Today's the day we rally for rail in Chilliwack! The rally's getting excellent coverage from the Chilliwack Times (front page!) and on the radio. Rail experts from VALTAC will be there to talk with. We'll have signs to hold, or you can make your own. There'll also be refreshments and snacks. It's gonna be a good time, hope you can make it!! Rally for Rail - Chilliwack - September 23 Come out to show your support for passenger rail! September 15: Here is a growing compilation of our Letters! September 11: UPDATE: Wow. I've had so many people tell me they've written letters. Check back soon, I'll put everyone's letters up on the website whether they get published or not. Just send them in! September 10: Rail for the Valley - September 10 - Facebook flood: Let's RAIL for the Rail! August 10: Click here for our historic August 10 first-ever "facebook flood" of Letters to the editor! |
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