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Bus-boosting study stacked deck against Valley trains, say critic Jeff Nagel Black Press Advocates of a modern light rail line connecting the Fraser Valley from Surrey to Chilliwack say the province’s new study recommending expanded bus service never gave trains an honest chance. Rail For The Valley founder Jon Buker accuses the transportation ministry-led study of “extreme bias” by using “grossly inflated” cost estimates to undermine the case for a light rail service running on the old Interurban corridor. He said the study is what he expected – one “designed simply to discredit light rail and push Victoria’s agenda for rapid bus implementation for the Fraser Valley.” The Strategic Review of Transit in the Fraser Valley estimated it would cost $112 million a year to launch a 98-kilometre heavy rail commuter line – akin to the West Coast Express – from Surrey to Chilliwack or $176 million annually for a light rail line that could serve more passengers. It said the region instead needs a $90-million-a-year investment in local and regional buses that would promise frequent service every 15 minutes or less over a wide area and include express buses to haul people longer distances. That would be a big jump from the $11 million a year currently spent on transit service in the Fraser Valley Regional District. Buker said a key flaw in the study is it based all its rail costs on a West Coast Express-type heavy rail service, which requires significant double-tracking and other rail Continued: BIAS/ p13
Wayne Newman, Salvation Army shelter director, speaks with Richard Rotteveel from EconoPro about one of the overcrowded rooms at the shelter. On Sunday night, this room had 10 men sleeping in it. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Mobile homeless shelter takes pressure off Jennifer Feinberg The Progress A repurposed shipping container is being transported to Chilliwack to help house the homeless. “We’ll be trying it out on a fourmonth basis, as well as exploring the option of having it here permanently,” said Ian Pratt, community ministries director for Chilliwack Salvation Army. The 40-foot container will be set up behind the Care and Share Centre starting tonight to provide a dry, warm place to sleep for those in need of an emergency bed, and overflow housing for the existing shelter. A community-minded Langley business is responsible for building the Temporary Homeless Relief Shelter, which can sleep 16 on bunk beds in an emergency
situation. “With the snow coming, we thought let’s get this unit in use,” explained Richard Rotteveel, head of special projects for EconoPro. The shelter project is the brainchild of Rob Reid, owner of Shadow Lines Transportation Group, who wanted to do something concrete to help the growing number of homeless in the Lower Mainland. EconoPro is a division of Shadow Lines, and the company specializes in modifying containers for different uses. “This was totally up our alley, although it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride trying to get it going.” The businessman spent more than $100,000 customizing the container unit. “Rob is giving it to the community. This is his gift,” he said. “People ask the business community to step up to the plate, and
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I think we’ve done that.” The only obstacle has been the red tape they’ve faced along the way in terms of municipal bureaucracies. “But everyone who sees it thinks it’s a good idea,” said Rotteveel. Norm Hayes of Chilliwack, who works for Rotteveel, was the one who suggested calling the local Sally Ann officials about bringing the shelter container to Chilliwack. “We were receptive because of our level of need,” said Pratt. The local Sally Ann runs a cold weather shelter program which has been “overcapacity” recently. “We have had a few more than normal,” said Pratt. They were impressed by the container concept, and found the business that built it to be both “innovative and community-minded.”
“We thought it was just a fantastic idea. It blew us away,” he said. “It was just so well set up and well equipped.” The converted container was built with ultimate safety in mind. It was built to set up in one place, and then taken away in the morning for cleaning and maintenance. It comes with an office, insulated steel doors, heating, LED lighting, toilets and storage space. The diesel furnace runs on battery, and they used fire retardant bedding, as well as including fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. “They wanted it to be used for the good of the community and those in need,” Pratt said. Rotteveel agreed. “We’re excited to see it settled in,” he said. “It’s not meant to solve the problem though, it’s just part of the puzzle.” jfeinberg@theprogress
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