People in the Lower Mainland will soon experience reduced traffic delays thanks to six new motorist advisory signs that will be installed at key road and railway crossings in Langley, Surrey and the Township of Langley, as part of the Railway Crossing Information System project.

The signs will complement the railway overpasses constructed in the Langley and Surrey area along the Roberts Bank rail corridor that were built to improve shipments and traffic flow, while enhancing trade with the Asia-Pacific region. Community consultation has shown strong support for the signs, as their purpose is to improve community liveability and help manage increased traffic along the corridor, which has as many as 22 train crossings per day.

“Our government is continuously working to build stronger, more efficient transportation corridors to international markets,” said the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport. “With this contribution of $300,000 to the intelligent transportation system, we are providing drivers with the information they need to choose the most efficient route, while making the trade corridor more reliable.”

Intelligent by design, the advisory signs will operate through a central control system and will provide drivers with real-time train crossing information — indicating if the crossing is open or closed — so drivers can make informed decisions about their travel routes. The signs will specify the train’s location and travel direction, enabling drivers to use alternate crossing options at adjacent railway overpasses in order to avoid traffic delays.

“These motorist advisory signs are a great example of how new transportation technology can improve the day-to-day lives of the people who live in high-traffic, trade-oriented communities,” said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Claire Trevena. “The Province will continue to work with our partners when it comes to innovating beneficial transportation solutions.”

In addition to reducing traffic congestion and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions due to decreased vehicle idling times, the signs will also increase travel efficiency and mobility for emergency vehicles.

“The Railway Crossing Information System is a critical piece of the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor program that will help drivers make informed choices when planning their route to minimize delays by rerouting to one of the eight new overpass crossings,” said Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink. “This is another example of business and government coming together to improve travel on major road arterials.”

“The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest, keeping our country connected with the global economy,” said Cliff Stewart, vice-president, infrastructure at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. “We recognize the movement of goods to and from the port can impact communities, and we’re always looking at ways to reduce that impact, working with a wide variety of stakeholders. The joint effort and support of all funding partners involved in this project will help to relieve traffic congestion and delays for drivers, while improving community safety and quality of life for daily commuters.”

The Railway Crossing Information System project is jointly funded by the Government of B.C., Transport Canada and Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, each providing $300,000, in addition to $2.9 million from TransLink. The total project cost is $3.8 million, which includes development of the central control system and a recently issued civil-works contract valued at $1.7 million, awarded to Crown Contracting Limited from Surrey. The project is expected to be complete and in operation by December 2018.