B

MOTION

Arbutus Corridor

WHEREAS, the City of Vancouver’s long-standing policy is to preserve the Marpole rail line running primarily along Arbutus Street from False Creek to Marpole, and known as the Arbutus Corridor, as a transportation corridor;

AND WHEREAS, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CPR) have indicated they intend to discontinue rail service along the Corridor;

AND WHEREAS, the CPR have posted a 60-day notice on December 18, 1999, in compliance with the Railway Abandonment Act (1996), that invites other rail operators to assume control of the Arbutus Corridor for transportation purposes;

AND WHEREAS, the City of Vancouver presently operates a passenger rail line, namely the Downtown Historic Railway;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Vancouver enter into immediate discussions with the CPR with a view to assuming control of the Arbutus Corridor for the purpose of preserving and maintaining the integrity of the corridor for transportation use.

BACKGROUND:

According to our best information, the CPR posted 60-day notice on December 18, 1999 under Sect. 145 of the Railway Discontinuance Act which allows another rail operator to buy/lease the Corridor. Failing any offers, the CPR must then post 30 day notice (Feb. 18 - March 18, 2000) and offer the Corridor to the three levels of government. If no one bites, the CPR can then sell off the Corridor to developers.

The CPR got the Corridor as part of its original 1880s land grant. It leased the line to the BCER for passenger rail service until 1958, and for freight service until 1986 when it reassumed control. The 6-mile long, 45 acre strip is currently assessed at $409,000 for tax purposes. The CPR has proposed a Draft Development Option which values the Corridor at $100 million.

City Engineer Dave Rudberg is responsible for the Downtown Historic Railway which runs along Second Avenue from Granville Island to Science World.

---

(c) 1998 City of Vancouver