27 January 2011

County Interested in the Rail Bed
If CP Line is Abandoned

Renfrew Ontario - The County of Renfrew is positioning itself to acquire the Canadian Pacific Railway bed that runs through the county.
 
Renfrew County council has directed county staff to enter discussions, in Friday's scheduled talks among Canadian Pacific, Lanark County, and Renfrew County officials in Perth, to acquire the abandoned railway bed.
 
The deadline for response to a Notice of Sale or Discontinuance of the line between Smiths Falls and Petawawa ends next week.
 
Therefore, county council directed staff, in Wednesday's session of county council, to "seek a moratorium on the abandonment process and enter into discussions with Canadian Pacific Railway to acquire the red bed for future use, consistent with the County of Renfrew Abandoned Railway Rights-of-Way Policy."
 
Efforts continue to try to save the railway, but county officials have already indicated it's not the county's mandate, nor can it afford, to pay for the estimated $90 million for the Renfrew County portion of railway line.
 
"Ultimately," explained Renfrew County chief administrative officer Jim Hutton, "we'd love to see rail service remain here, but if the rail service isn't going to be here, we have to do the next best thing.
 
"And that's to make sure the corridor is available in the public domain."
 
The county already owns Renfrew County portions of the abandoned K&P Railway Line that runs from the county to Kingston. More recently, the county entertained purchasing the abandoned Canadian National line from Pembroke to Algonquin Park for one dollar. However, environmental issues have at least temporarily stalled those efforts, said Hutton.
 
Renfrew County's representatives at Friday's meeting will be property and development director Paul Moreau, warden Bob Sweet, and Whitewater Region Township county councillor Don Rathwell. Rathwell is also the past warden and chairman of the county's property and development committee.
 
The Lanark delegation will include former Mississippi Mills mayor Al Lunney and warden Sharon Mousseau.
 
"That's Renfrew County's decision," said Lunney. "That's a bit of news to me."
 
Lunney noted the 28 Jan 2011 meeting "is to look at all of the options," including placing a moratorium on tearing up the tracks.
 
"It's to gather as much information as possible," Lunney said. "Then, we will make a decision."