Passenger train service can be reinstated in the Sea to Sky Corridor – but “not with public tax dollars,” Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone told The Squamish Chief on Thursday.
The service was cancelled in 2002 because it was losing money due to low ridership, Stone said. “The return on investment was just not there.”
The private sector, however, could look at reinstating the passenger service, he added.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District recently wrote the provincial government asking for restoration of the route, which ran every day from North Vancouver to Lillooet and three times a week to Prince George, according to West Coast Railway Association archivist Trevor Mills.
The transportation minister made the remarks in an interview after he gave a speech to the Squamish Chamber of Commerce at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. In his public remarks, Stone praised the railway park as “truly a gem for all British Columbians to enjoy, in fact all Canadians.”
“This is how the country was built,” he told the crowd. “It was built by the railways.”
He talked about taking the train while he was growing up in Port Coquitlam.
In his speech, Stone also mentioned the increased traffic on the Sea to Sky Highway.
He said Squamish “changed dramatically with the railway” and is now changing due to the pre-Olympic improvements to the Sea to Sky Highway.
“We are seeing a number of people moving here and commuting,” he said, noting that real estate values are up.
“It does come with its challenges…. We all need to come up with solutions,” the minister said.
He also mentioned the port as being “critical” to the community as it creates economic opportunities and spoke about the strength of B.C.’s economy, which he said people are saying is “on a tear.”
With strong job creation and a balanced budget, he said, “British Columbia is poised to lead economic growth.”
“Transportation and infrastructure is a critical priority of our government,” he said.
“This corridor has seen $850 million in highways since 2001 – the biggest part of that is the Sea to Sky Highway itself.”
The government has doubled funding for transit, and ridership is up on Squamish transit, Stone said. However, he added, the government plans to do more to improve transit.
“We have to do more and will do more this year…. working together with local government partners and transit partners to develop a plan.”
Stone said, “Transportation is a critical, critical driver of economic growth.”
Prior to the meeting, Eric Andersen of the Squamish and District Forestry Association handed out an information sheet stressing the need for safety improvements at the intersection of Highway 99 and the Industrial Access Road toward the Mamquam Blind Channel. Logging trucks currently have trouble getting on the highway, Andersen told The Squamish Chief.
With the increased tourism and other traffic in the region, “the highway traffic is unbelievable,” said Andersen. “They take these huge chances just trying to get out there.”
Speaking to Stone in front of the Chamber of Commerce members, he commended the Ministry of Transportation senior staff for their work.
Andersen pointed out that the highway upgrade project had “an enormous impact on Squamish…. We have a number of quite serious safety issues to solve on the Sea to Sky Highway.”
Stone thanked him for the feedback and added the ministry is also looking at other concerns, including tight spots that pose “serious safety concerns” for cyclists. “We have a number of quite serious safety issues to solve on the Sea to Sky Highway…. The work never ends and we appreciate the feedback.”
