The “North Van Port & Rail Expansion Project”, aka the Low Level Road Improvement Project (LLRIP), has been marketed to local residents as a project that will benefit the community in many ways. Examples include reduced rail noise such as train whistling and shunting, improved road safety, reduced traffic congestion, improved emergency response capabilities, improved slope stability, improved bike lanes, new pedestrian sidewalks, etc.
The missing elements to this marketing campaign are the statement of benefits to the Port and its partners including CN Rail. The presentation boards and glossy brochures merely state that the project “will enhance rail and port operations” and the only reference to port expansion is the statement: “Provision for two new rail tracks by re-aligning the existing Low Level Road, to improve trade efficiency and reduce noise from rail car switching by facilitating the use of longer trains”.
