
By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Oct. 6, 2012
District of Squamish is researching the ‘release’ of CN Railway Spur that extends to the SODC land along Loggers Lane in downtown Squamish.
Releasing the spur is one of district’s 2012 major projects, and it’s 10 per cent complete. The district is researching to determine whatcan be done with the closed spur line, said district spokesperson Kate O’ Connell.
“The research for the project has not been conducted. As such, we do not have any information at this time,” Connell added.
Sources say the move presages the plans for a district land swap or a property deal with BCR, and paves the way for a vision etched out by the Oceanfront sub-are plan.
If the ‘release’ means a release of CN Railway lease, it will enable the district to work freely with BC Rail, which owns the land under the tracks.
If, however, the release implies removal, then the consequences are serious.
Historian and wood industry consultant Eric Andersen said the removal of the spur would erase any possibility of any tourist or any other train.
“I’m concerned this is yet another fait accompali,” Andersen said.
The downtown railway spurs were installed in 1910, and have served many purposes.
They connected B.C. Interior freight to barge terminals on the present SODC land, and then interior pulp industries to Squamish chemical suppliers.
CN has lease over the tracks, but BC Rail owns the right of way. According to federal regulations, CN must apply to abandon any spur.
Questions to CN media relations department over the state of downtown spur were not answered.
District negotiations with the BC Rail are also 90 per cent complete, according to the district major project list.
Details, however, can only be heard behind closed district chambers. From North Yards to downtown Squamish, BCR owns 19 different plots of land scattered all over town.
It’s an influential player: It owns 64 acres in North yard alone, an area that has been discussed in the council chamber wistfully as a future manufacturing hub.
Yet, there is not much the district can do except control zoning. BCR also owns prime land in downtown Squamish, some of which it has advertised to be sold or leased.
Yet, both parties haven’t always enjoyed cordial relations.
Relations have been strained since the district rejected a BCR application for a four-storey, 212 unit development along the Mamquam Blind Channel in 2009.
Now, to make its Oceanfront vision a reality, the district has to finalize a land swap for the BCR property downtown Squamish.
One BCR lot, 1.37 acres on Loggers Lane, is a crucial artery for access to Oceanfront. The major details of these discussions are understandably kept under the wrap.
But some questions beg for answers: What is the future of the railway spur? Where are we on BCR negotiations? How do we matter in BCR land sales?
Donald Graham says
Eric, do I correctly recall that the Hudson used to pull in close to the Squamish rail station and then back up the spur. It then discharged its passengers to wander around Downtown.
One of the charms of places like Granville Island is to see the old tracks , reminding us of what was.
I think we are about one year away from the spur being de-commissioned, then we can get red of that idiotic STOP sign just before the curve at the east end of the Lane.
Jonathan says
There’s an even more idiotic (and potentially dangerous) stop sign where Pemberton Avenue crosses the spur. Do we have to wait until the line is decommissioned to get that one removed?
Don Patrick says
Many rail spurs have been removed in the last 40 years only to be the mistake of the times. That spur line is the link between the developed SODC lands and the North Yards… can anyone imagine a small electric communter operating between those two areas. The North yards is the only industrial land in Squamish and is coming up for sale… the SODC lands has a dream attached to it… so to communte between the two…what a better mode of transportation than a electric communter, a green machine, but we will have to let a little water run under the bridge before it will become reality. Remember it was the Diesel driven long haul transports that put the steam trains out of business, then the railroads went diesel to compete, now we have the two dirty motive power units… but trains hauling two miles of consists with a crew of two… verses a truck hauling a container or two with two drivers. It is not a question that is hard to answer… sure the trucks are faster, but trains are coming on and if green is the objective ??. As a sidebar, density living is not the answer, many will be insane living in boxes…. our threat to life besides the increasing population is our food supply and of course the by-product, sewage.
Lets not waste our valuable time on carbon, electronic frequencies and conspiracy theories… etc, the solar system is on a rampage.
Michael Lonergan says
Don Patrick, to answer your question, no, I cannot imagine a small commuter electric train operating from the North Yards to the SODC lands. Especially in a town that cannot get its already weak transit system running properly. The downtown spur line needs to be ripped up and cleaned up. As it sits right now, it is an overgrown eyesore. Oh, and those SODC lands? When are they going to be developed? Maybe in my grandkids grandkids will see that pipe dream become a reality.
Donald says
In answer to your last point,BNS will have foreclosed on the SODC lands long before your grandkids go to University ; that is unless the bank simply calls on the Municipality guarantee to BNS in which case your grandkids will be paying city taxes instead of student loans.
How many Council members ran on a promise to do something about SODC?