Analysis of Rail Service in Northern British Columbia

Client(s):

Resource Municipalities Coalition/HDR Inc.

Location:

Fort St John, BC

Dates:

January 2021 – August 2021

Background:

Hatfield was retained by the prime consultant to undertake a socio-economic assessment of freight and passenger rail services on behalf of a coalition of five northeast BC communities including, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, District of Taylor, District of Tumbler Ridge, and District of Mackenzie. The communities work collaboratively to address a broad range of issues related to responsible resource development, cumulative impacts, and regional economic diversification. The main objective of Hatfield’s scope was to gather information and data from a broad range of community voices to identify how improvements or changes in the rail service and rail network might benefit quality of life in communities across northern BC through better environmental stewardship and enhanced economic development.

Services Provided:

Hatfield developed and administered 132 surveys and 20 in-depth interviews to respondents in 41 First Nations and 39 municipalities and unincorporated communities located within a 50 km radius of the rail network across northern BC. Surveys were sent to community leaders and administrators, town planners, emergency response managers, economic development organizations, local business associations, first responders, and First Nations representatives and leadership.

The analysis provided insight on both the positive and negative impacts of freight and passenger rail on community quality of life and highlighted several opportunities for economic development potential enhancement of community quality of life around safety and environmental management. The data analysis and findings were written up in two reports.