5 November 2006
PoCo Reaches CPR Deal But Won't Reveal Price
Port Coquitlam British Columbia - One of the lingering
questions regarding the future of PoCo's planned Coast Meridian Overpass has been answered but the city won't reveal how much that
answer costs.
Friday, the city announced it had bought aerial rights-of way from CP Rail to build the $98.7-million
viaduct over the rail yard from Kingsway Avenue/Broadway Street (south side) to Coast Meridian/Lougheed.
But Mayor Scott Young said he would not comment on the costs associated with securing the rights-of-way, nor would he
comment on how much has been budgeted for doing so.
"Final costs are still being determined," he said, noting that the agreement reached is simply a framework. "Any costs
associated will be contained by the overall costs of the project."
PoCo's director of engineering, Igor Zahynacz, said all costs related to securing the aerial rights-of-way are included
in the current project cost estimate but said that due to a confidentiality agreement, he would not discuss specifics.
"It's within the budget," he said.
The agreement came within weeks of the city filing an application with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) asking it to intervene
in discussions due to what it called CP Rail's apparent lack of interest in discussions.
But CP Rail spokesperson Ed Greenberg said the private company has always been "prepared to work with the city and come up with a
suitable agreement."
When asked why it took more than a year for rights-of-way to be secured and why the CTA was involved, Greenberg said,
"It took some time to come up with [an agreement] that recognized our important role in the B.C. economy and serving Lower
Mainland businesses."
He said issues of concern surrounded the protection of operations and the ability to meet the shipping needs of customers and move
North American commerce in and out of the ports.
"And that has been addressed with this agreement," he said.
Construction of the overpass is expected to take approximately 14 months.
Greenberg said CP Rail is "pleased" it was able to work through the "very complex matter," and is happy an
agreement was reached. He would not disclose the price tag.
The next step in the project is the preparation of a request for qualifications to ensure interested contractors have sufficient
experience to design and build the largest infrastructure project in PoCo's history. The request should go out in the next three to
four months, according to Zahynacz, who said requests for proposals will follow about a month later.
Meanwhile, eligible PoCo voters have until 21 Nov 2006 to sign elector response forms if they want a referendum regarding
the overpass project. If 10% of eligible voters - or 3,591 people - respond, the city, under the Community Charter, cannot enter into
a funding agreement with the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (GVTA) before gaining the assent of voters. That's because the
agreement would impose certain obligations on the city exceeding five years, including the fact it would be required to operate,
maintain, and rehabilitate the overpass and related works for the duration of their design life (estimated to be 50 years).
William Issa, a Coast Meridian Road resident and opponent of the project, says he has been canvassing the city "working hard to
get people to sign the forms."
Editor's note: There is no such entity named CP Rail. The author is referring to
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.
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