Canada announces completion of Ashcroft Terminal expansion in Ashcroft, British Columbia; expansion seen as step to diversify region's economy in response to mountain pine beetle infestation, which has put forestry industry at risk

Cindy Allen

ASHCROFT, British Columbia , May 22, 2014 (press release) – The Government of Canada today announced the completion of Ashcroft Terminal’s Expansion project, which will improve the flow of goods by rail, and give local industry a competitive edge in international trade.

The newly completed terminal expansion project — announced today by Mark Strahl, Member of Parliament for Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport — added a 1,500-metre enhanced connection to the mainline with additional railcar storage, transload facilities and support tracks. These improvements will help the terminal to more efficiently handle manufacturing, industrial and mining materials, and agricultural products. They will also allow shipments to move more quickly through the rail corridor.

The project will also provide local producers and shippers with safer and better services, including greater road access to the terminal.

These improvements will help to forge stronger shipping ties between British Columbia’s natural resource sector and the Asia-Pacific region, providing competitive options to shippers from the Ashcroft area. The terminal expansion has served as an important step in helping to diversify the region’s economy in response to the mountain pine beetle infestation, which has put the forestry industry at risk and threatened the stability of the regional economy.
Quick Facts

This joint investment of $7.15 million from the Government of Canada and Ashcroft Terminal will provide lasting economic improvements throughout the region. The federal government contributed over $3.57 million from the Mountain Pine Beetle Program within the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Transportation Infrastructure Fund (APGCTIF), while Ashcroft Terminal provided matching funds.
Construction of the Ashcroft Terminal expansion project began in February 2013 and was completed on time and within budget.
Ashcroft Terminal is currently served by the Canadian Pacific Rail mainline that feeds into Port Metro Vancouver, a major international trade hub and gateway to Asian markets.
The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI) aims to make Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway the best transportation network for moving goods between North America and Asia.
The Mountain Pine Beetle Program increased the total federal investment in the APGCTIF by $44 million to provide transportation infrastructure support for areas in British Columbia affected by the mountain pine beetle, an insect that attacks mature or weakened lodgepole pine.

Quotes

“The completion of the Ashcroft Terminal project will provide our region with economic benefits through trade for generations to come.”

Mark Strahl
Member of Parliament for Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon

“The expansion project has allowed Ashcroft Terminal to provide an alternative to truck traffic to help reduce congestion and Green House Gases (GHG emissions). Ashcroft Terminal is now better able to serve existing and future Canadian shippers and producers from all natural resource sectors, including: mining; forestry; oil & gas; agriculture and manufacturing.”

Robert Landucci
CEO of Ashcroft Terminal

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