All Aboard for Heritage Railway Signs in Langley City

A few years ago, Langley City resident Bruce Downing had an idea to place heritage markers on Grade Crescent to recognize the history of that road as the original railbed for the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway.

A picture of Langley Prairie’s (Langley City) B.C. Electric Railway "new" station opened July 1928. It was demolished circa 1955. The railway tracks were removed in 1970. Select the image to enlarge.

Mr. Downing presented this idea to the City, but we didn't have a heritage committee then, so the City upgraded the mandate of our Arts, Culture, & Recreation Committee to the Arts, Culture, Recreation & Heritage Committee.

With the additional help of Henry Ewert and Graham MacDonell, Mr. Downing and the committee worked on what has now turned into the Heritage Railway Project.

An example of the heritage railway signs.

Last Monday, Langley City Council approved installing signs at six locations in our community as shown on the following map.

A map showing the locations where the City will install the heritage railway signs. Select the map to enlarge.

The following shows an example of the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway wording.

Grade Crescent is aptly named as it is laid on the original “grade” of the Vancouver, Victoria, and Eastern Railway (V.V.& E.) line.

Chartered in 1897, this railway operated between the Lower Mainland and B.C.’s Kootenay-Boundary region. The V.V.& E. operated through Langley from 1908 to 1933. It was a passenger and freight line with an emphasis on long-distance rather than local service and it often transported logs to sawmills. The railway had a limited impact within Langley Prairie as there were no stations located here. The closest V.V.& E. stations were Cloverdale Station and Lincoln Station (Benz Crescent, Township of Langley). The arrival of the BC Electric Railway in 1910 had a more profound impact on Langley Prairie which became Langley City in 1955.

Parts of the V.V.& E. right-of-way were purchased for municipal roads in 1934 at a cost of $240. The following roads follow the original railbed. (with some minor realignments).

These include:

• Colebrook Road / 50 Avenue (between 192 Street and 200 Street)
• Grade Crescent
• 47 Avenue east of 208 Street

There was also a spur line on Grade Crescent near 208 Street which was used for housing logs on railcars that supplied the adjacent Federal Lumber Company (1918 – 1924)

The next shows an example of one of the texts for the British Columbia Electric Railway Interurban sign, which the City will install by Brydon Lagoon.

Langley City was initially connected to the rest of the region by two railways. They were the B.C. Electric Railway and the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway (V.V. & E.). These railways carried both passengers and freight. This path follows the old rail bed of the B.C. Electric Railway.

It operated its passenger interurban service in Langley between 1910 and 1950. The railway helped fuel the growth of Langley City. It was hydroelectric-powered and provided transportation from Vancouver, all the way to Chilliwack by October 1910.

The railway ran to the west on the south side of Brydon Lagoon to 192 Street where Anderson Station stood. To the east, the railway followed what is now Baldi Creek Trail. It ran to Hunter Station at what is now the intersection of 200 Street and Michaud Crescent. From Hunter Station, it followed the north side of Michaud Crescent to Langley Prairie Station. That station is now the location of Timms Community Centre. Leaving Langley Prairie Station the tracks headed northeast along Glover Road.

Slowly, with better roads and an increase in cars and trucks, the railway became uneconomical. The ending of service on September 30, 1950, was marked by a large ceremony attended by politicians from the communities served by the railway. The tracks were removed in the early 1980s and this walking path was established.

The signs will have QR codes directing people to a web page with more historical information. If you would like to learn more about the historic railways in Langley City, please read NEIGHBOURHOOD HISTORY - THE RAILWAYS.

September 11 Council Notes: Capital Projects Changes and Cost Increases

Langley City may receive grants throughout the year, project cost changes, and priorities shift. These changes mean that Langley City Council amends the capital budget from time to time throughout the year.

Council approved the last budget amendment in May.

While there are some new projects, the biggest reason for this latest amendment was the cost difference between what the City thought the projects would cost and the price the City received when projects went to tender. Like other governments and the private sector, Langley City has seen substantial and unprecedented cost increases in construction due to a labour shortage and material cost increases.

Building a Safer Langley (BSCF) – Guns & Gangs: $320,800 Federal Government Grant

Local Government Climate Action Program: $170,080 Provincial Government Grant topped up with $34,020 from casino proceeds to help the City meet provincial climate action goals

Replace a Broken Woodchipper: $80,000 funded by City reserves

Transportation Safety Improvements: $75,000 grant from ICBC, including an enhanced crosswalk at 53rd Avenue and 201A Street

MIA Risk Management: $25,545 risk management grant from the Municipal Insurance Association of BC

Asset Management: $25,000 grant from UBCM to enhance the City's asset management program

City Hall/Timms Office Space Reconfiguration: $400,000 to accommodate additional staff funded by casino proceeds

56 Ave, 200 St to 203 St: $1.38 million top-up of an ongoing project funded by City reserves and developer contributions

McBurney Plaza Improvements: $350,000 top-up of project to replace wood decking with a more durable and slip-resistant product funded by developer contributions

Douglas Park Washroom: $400,000 top-up of project funded by developer contributions

City Park Enhancement: $350,000 top-up of project to complete the renewal of Barbour Field funded by developer contributions

Cast Iron and Watermain Replacement: $795,000 top-up of the project funded by delaying a watermain valve replacement project, $95,000 from City reserves and $700,000 from casino proceeds

46 Ave, 206A to 207 St Storm Sewer: $167,000 top-up of the renewal project funded by casino proceeds*

Fire Utility Truck: $20,000 top-up funded by casino proceeds

Fire Command Vehicle: $20,000 top-up funded by casino proceeds

Council gave this budget amendment first, second, and third reading.

*This was included in the spring budget amendment details, but it didn't make it into the official budget amendment bylaw due to an oversight.

September 11 Council Notes: Housing Matters. Two Additional Six-Storey Apartment Buildings

On Monday night, Langley City Council addressed several housing matters. The first was a public hearing, which you can read in yesterday's post.

Council gave first and second reading for rezoning bylaw that, if approved, would allow for the construction of a 6-storey, 126-unit apartment building at 19948 55A Avenue. If you go to this site today, you'll notice that it is an empty lot. There was a proposal for this site in 2019 for a 4-storey apartment. The applicant didn't proceed with that project.

A rendering of a proposed apartment at 19948 55A Avenue. Select the image to enlarge.

Council will now schedule a public hearing for the rezoning bylaw to enable the 6-storey apartment.

Council also gave third reading to a rezoning bylaw, which, if given final reading, would enable the construction of a 6-storey, 75-unit apartment building at 20214 & 20224 54A Avenue.

A rendering of a proposed building at 20214 & 20224 54A Avenue. Select the image to enlarge.

At the public hearing, while Council received various feedback, the City sent six items to the project's applicant to provide a more detailed response.

These items include the removal of trees on neighbouring properties, traffic impacts, rear lane safety, updating the rental replacement unit mix, and providing a drawing showing the usability of combined bicycle and storage rooms.

You can read the complete response from the applicant in the Public Hearing Followup Memo. The primary concern for the adjacent strata apartment owners is the removal and replacement of trees on their property's borders. As noted in the memo, the City "will be required [the applicant and the stratas] come to a resolution with them before the subject application will be permitted to return to Council for consideration of approval."

As an additional followup, all units will have A/C, and the applicant will also provide the option to purchase wall/ceiling bike rack mounts for the storage units.

Public Hearing Notes: Two 6-Storey Apartments on Eastleigh Crescent

Last night, Langley City Council held a public hearing for a proposed rezoning which would enable the construction of two 6-storey apartments with a total of 171 units at 20659-20679 Eastleigh Crescent.

Rendering of proposed project at 20659 - 20679 Eastleigh Crescent. Select the image to enlarge.

Langley City Council received one written submission from a current resident in one of the existing townhouses, noting concern about finding affordable rental housing elsewhere.

Three people shared their feedback at the public hearing. One person supported the project, though they thought there wasn't enough parking. The other two people who shared feedback were a husband and wife who live in the townhouse complex to the back of the proposed new apartments.

They expressed concern about construction noise, dust, asbestos, trees, rodents, the replacement fencing between their townhouse complex and the proposed apartments, and the setback of the proposed buildings' parking garage.

The project's applicant noted that they would be willing to work with the townhouse complex if someone had a backyard event, such as an outdoor wedding, to reduce the noise impacts at a specific time. Staff noted that the City has a construction noise bylaw that regulates permitted construction activity hours. Because of the high water table, dust is not expected to be an issue during construction, but any silica dust will be captured to prevent spread. There will likely be asbestos in the existing buildings. Before demolishing, the asbestos will need to be removed safely and with the approval of WorkSafeBC. While the trees on the side of the property will be removed, the buildings' underground parking is designed to preserve the trees on the back of the property, which backs onto the townhouse complex. Those trees will be protected and retained. City staff noted the applicant must have a rodent control program to reduce rodents making a home in other buildings due to the demolition of the older buildings. The applicant also noted the replacement fence between the proposed apartments and the townhouse complex to the back would be a high-quality metal and composite fence. The buildings' underground parking is setback at least 1.2 metres from the back of the property.

Langley City's Advisory Design Panel made 25 recommendations about this project, which you can read in their explanatory memo.

The project is also subject to Langley City's Tenant Relocation Policy. You can read more about their relocation work to date in an additional report.

The project is subject to Langley City's one-for-one rental replacement policy. As such, the applicant will provide ten one-bedroom rental units and 11 two-bedroom rental units ranging from 557 sq. ft. to 805 sq. ft.

As the public hearing is now closed, Council cannot, under BC law, receive any further feedback about this proposed rezoning.