The Ridge Meadows Chamber would like to express our strong support for the Harris Road underpass project for the City of Pitt Meadows. We believe that this infrastructure upgrade is necessary to improve the safety and efficiency of our transportation network. 

Saying this, the City of Pitt Meadows portion of this project is costing $49.6 million, this is a significant investment from a small city, and it would deplete its budget, taking away from other essential needs. This would mean that businesses and citizens will have to take on a substantial tax increase. Taxes are already high enough and they should not have to bear the financial burden of this project. Placing additional financial pressure on businesses could cause catoptric implications. 

Furthermore, we believe that this project should be viewed as a national trade issue, and the federal government should provide support for its funding. The proposed underpass will greatly improve the efficiency of transportation in the area and will help to reduce wait times for commuters who work within Pitt Meadows as well as consumers shopping at local businesses. 

As it stands, the average wait time for a train to cross is 3.5 hours a day, which is projected to double in the next 7 years. This will greatly impact the productivity of businesses in the area and hinder the economic growth of our city. By building the Harris Road underpass, we can help to alleviate this issue and ensure that our city continues to thrive. 

Furthermore, the Harris Road underpass will provide significant benefits in terms of safety. Currently, the railway crossing at Harris Road presents a significant emergency issue holding up ambulances and fire. Time is of the essence and waiting on a train for over 5 minutes could be a matter of life and death. 

We commend the City of Pitt Meadows for its efforts to pursue this important project, this project is critical for the safety and economic growth of the City of Pitt Meadows