Media centre details

Community feedback helps decide new gas line route in Burnaby

Apr 20, 2021

Surrey, BC – April 20, 2021: FortisBC has selected a preferred route for a proposed new gas line in Burnaby, following engagement with the local community including the City of Burnaby.

The proposed gas line would run along Sperling Avenue, Glencarin Drive, Lakefield Drive and 4th Street in Burnaby, and is needed to replace FortisBC’s gas line that is attached to the existing Pattullo Bridge.

The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is preparing to replace the Pattullo Bridge and its design standards do not permit a gas line to be on the new bridge. The line is a vital part of our gas system, helping deliver energy to more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Burnaby, New Westminster and Coquitlam. This includes approximately 18,000 customers in Burnaby.

“Our engagement with the community has provided important feedback that was incorporated into the project and has resulted in this new preferred route,” said Melanie Kilpatrick, Pattullo Gas Line Replacement project director at FortisBC.

“Our work with the local community including the City of Burnaby is a great example of the benefits that can be achieved through early and meaningful engagement.”

FortisBC presented two potential options for a replacement gas line in Burnaby to stakeholders, Indigenous groups and the community last year as part of engagement.

We have selected the Sperling Avenue route as our preferred option based on our investigations into both routes, City of Burnaby input, and feedback received during engagement. This feedback focused on the limited traffic corridors around Gaglardi Way and Cariboo Road, as well as impacts to residents living in these areas from other recent and planned construction projects.

FortisBC is also working with the City of Burnaby to design and build a new cycling and walking path along the proposed gas line route to provide a lasting local benefit from the project and thank the community for its patience during construction.

“We appreciate working with FortisBC on the proposed gas line route that addresses the City’s previous feedback,” said James Lota, deputy director of engineering at the City of Burnaby.

“We look forward to the creation of a new multi-use pathway that the community will be able to enjoy for decades as part of the shift to more sustainable ways of travel.”

The preferred gas line route, if approved, would:

  • Start near the intersection of Sperling Avenue and Lougheed Highway, and finish near the intersection of 16th Avenue and 4th Street
  • Largely follow Sperling Avenue and Glencarin Drive north of Highway 1, and Lakefield Drive and 4th Street south of the highway
  • Include a new underground facility near the intersection of 16th Avenue and 4th Street

On August 31, 2020, we submitted an application to our regulator the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC), followed by updates in September and December. The BCUC is expected to make a decision on the application in summer 2021.

Learn more and sign up to receive project updates at talkingenergy.ca/pattullogasline.

 

Media contact

Trevor Wales
Manager Communications, Major Projects
FortisBC Energy, Inc.
[email protected]
fortisbc.com
@fortisBC
24-hour media line: 1-855-322-6397

About FortisBC Energy Inc.
FortisBC is a regulated utility focused on providing safe and reliable energy, including natural gas, electricity and propane. FortisBC employs more than 2,400 British Columbians and serves approximately 1.2 million customers in 135 B.C. communities. FortisBC owns and operates two liquefied natural gas storage facilities and four regulated hydroelectric generating plants, approximately 7,200 kilometres of transmission and distribution power lines, and approximately 48,700 kilometres of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines. FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. do business as FortisBC. FortisBC is indirectly, wholly owned by Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American electric and gas utility business. FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. Additional information can be accessed at fortisinc.com or sedar.com.