Vancouver formalizes rail project land swap

The port commission have adopted a resolution to exchange 0.77 acres (0.3 ha) of property currently included in Terminal 5, immediately west of the utility’s property in exchange for two small triangle parcels totalling 0.77 acres on the south side of the utility’s property.

The property the port acquires in the exchange will allow for rail construction to begin west of Gateway Avenue and around the perimeter of Terminal 5 – formerly the Alcoa/Evergreen Aluminum property. Construction will begin in the fall of this year, with expected completion scheduled for spring of 2010.

The Terminal 5 rail loop will provide the port with unit train access for trains of 100-120 cars for port tenants and customers – both inbound and outbound – to be distributed across the port’s rail network internally instead of in the BNSF’s Vancouver Yard and across the north/south mainline.