5 December 2006
Moving Rail Line An Option Says Council
Lacombe Alberta - Council is revisiting the decades old
issue of moving the rail line that runs through the town.
"Thirty years ago there were some plans and that was forward thinking," said Coun. Ed Koberstein at the regular council
meeting 27 Nov 2006.
Mayor Judy Gordon said she remembers the issue from when she was on council then.
"We looked at it but the cost was unbelievable back then."
But she added, "As we grow the problem is only going to escalate and we have other crossings besides that one."
Coun. Dawn Parent agreed saying it, "was worth pursuing and pursuing right away. With all of this development east of Lacombe it
makes perfect sense for them to relocate."
Town of Lacombe Chief Administrative Officer Bob Jenkins, in a phone interview after the meeting, said moving the train tracks is not
an easy undertaking.
"When you look at it, it becomes a very expensive difficult process. The real question is who in the world pays for this. That's
why it's never been pursued with any great vigour."
Coun. Ian Foster is council's representative on Canadian Pacific Railroad's (CPR) community advisory panel and will raise the issue at
their next meeting.
CPR spokesperson Ed Greenberg said moving the line is an option they would consider.
"It is a complex issue that would require detailed discussions with municipalities and with the federal government. We are
certainly always prepared to sit down and have discussions."
"We have a responsibility as a railway to be as safe as possible but there are other stakeholders that grow in proximity to our
rail tracks," said Greenberg in a phone interview from his Calgary office Thursday.
Coun. Jim Dixon, at the meeting, said, "When you put rail and urban areas together it's a dangerous
mix."
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