Editor:
I recently read about another rail blockage of traffic in and out of Crescent Beach.
This is most inconvenient and certainly could become serious should there be an accident, fire, near-drowning, shooting etc. in that community when a train is stopped or stalled on the crossing.
Last week, I was down at Crescent Beach and made a point of taking the other single-lane crossing at Bayview and McBride, which is several hundred metres south of the main crossing.
It’s a single crossing and I’m sure it would also be blocked when the main crossing is blocked.
I parked my truck on the east side and walked across the track and back.
What is so different from the main rail crossing is the significant incline of 10 or more feet you climb to cross the track.
To me, it appears that a single-lane underpass could be constructed for a significantly lower cost than building a new main two-lane crossing with sidewalks and possibly also a bicycle lane to meet full modern standards.
This would allow for urgent or emergency vehicles, police, etc. to still enter and leave the area safely if a train were disabled for a period of time.
Although a full, modern elevated crossing is preferred by the residents, one has to wonder about the reality of such an expensive project in light of many other important street and highway projects underway and needed in Surrey, the region and B.C.
As the old saying goes “A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.”
Tim Roark, Surrey