Public meets with CNR Decision to close Little Street crossing lies with RR town council

Ken Johnston
Editor

Only Canadian National Railway attended the public meeting last Tuesday regarding the possible closure of the Little Street crossing. Transport Canada officials would not attend a meeting at which the media was present.

Nearly 30 citizens attended and many had questions for CNR Public Works Officer Randy Domstead.

Mayor Glen Armstrong opened the meeting by noting that council had a meeting with both CNR and Transport Canada just before the meeting with the public. “We want to be sure that safety vehicles can get across the tracks,” said Armstrong noting that Transport Canada told them that crossings can not be blocked for more than five minutes and if they are, the public should file complaints. “Transport Canada can issue an order to force trains to be shortened up if safety is compromised,” he added.

Retired railroader Bob Ewald noted, “There have been many turn ins over the years and nothing has happened,” referring to the trains blocking crossings for more than five minutes.

Domstead noted that safety is always a concern for CNR and they have identified the two crossings as safety concerns in Rainy River. He cited cars racing to crossings to beat a train and kids climbing over or under a parked train as concerns early on. Later in the meeting when asked if the speed of trains through Rainy River is going to be increased to 25 miles/hour and if that would be a safety concern with the crossings being left as they are.

“Yes the speed increase has been discussed. We can not entertain a train speed increase without signals and gates. That would push us to put them in and if necessary wait 10 years for the funding,” said Domstead.

The cost of upgrading both Government Road and Little St. crossings would be just over $500,000. However, CNR has made the town an offer to pay for the upgrades on Government Road if Little St. is closed. Otherwise, Transport Canada will pay 80% of the costs and CNR and the Town of Rainy River will be on the hook for the balance. That would cost the taxpayers about $63,000 and CNR about $37,000.

“The Town (Rainy River) as a road authority has a 50% share of crossing responsibility. Under the Railway Safety Act we have a shared responsibility,” said CNR’s Domstead. “Transport Canada sets down rules for what has to be done at railway crossings,” he added.

Since CNR has identified the crossings as safety hazards, Domstead said when a proposal goes to Transport Canada it will be looked at by that federal agency and then added to a list if they deem it a safety need. Where it sits on the list will be determined by how urgent TC ranks the need. Then it is a waiting game to get to those crossings on the list before TC will release funding.

However, Domstead said that if CNR sees the crossings as needing the upgrades immediately, they can choose to do the improvements and foot the bill until the grant money comes from the federal government; which he said could take up to ten years.

Art Solomonian asked how many accidents have ever happened at Little St. Only one could be recalled. Solomonian said, “This is CNR’s problem and I think it is unfair that the citizens have to pay for the crossing (upgrades).”

Domstead noted that CNR does not close crossings, communities do. He said it is completely up to Rainy River if they want to close Little St. However, CNR has made the closure very tempting by offering to pay for the cost of upgrading Government Road if Little is closed. They also offered to pave and widen Railway Avenue, the road between Little and Government Rd. Domstead said they offered several incentives to the Town that he was not at liberty to disclose.

“Will the train whistles stop if crossing gates go up?” asked citizen Wayne McCarthy who lives at the Little St. crossing.

Domstead said, “Trains will still whistle through town. CN views it (whistle stoppage) as the removal of a safety device.” He also added that TC will not pay their share of the crossing upgrades if it is being done to stop train whistles.

However, he did say that Rainy River could negotiate with CNR to stop the whistles, but he noted it would be very difficult to get them on side for such a move. “When something has been around for 100 years it is very difficult to get rid of.”

Domstead reassured those present that CNR has no plans to do anything with Miller Ave. crossing just east of Rainy River across from Forest Lawn Cemetery. That crossing is in Dawson Township and Dawson Councillor Archie Wiersema who was the meeting last Tuesday said his council has inquired to that effect and heard the same answer that Domstead gave.

Some people were concerned that if Little was closed and Miller ended up getting closed safety would be compromised across the tracks.

O.J. Nault said the people need something in writing that Miller will not be closed.

Domstead said he has asked Rainy’s council to bring a proposal forward to CN to take to Transport Canada whether it is leaving Little open or closing it. CN will then take it to TC. He noted that Rainy River could choose to say no to the upgrades but it would then be likely that TC would come in and tell the town that they will have to do them.

Domstead also said the town can say no to the costs for the upgrades and fight it out with CN with arbitration where both sides would make their case. “We would rather not do that,” said Domstead.

RR councillor Dean Wiersema said that if the town keeps Little open and has to pay that the impact on the taxpayers would be as follows: a 20% tax hike over one year or 3% over 10 years. The town will receive $20,000 from TC as compensation for the loss of Little if it is closed and have to pay nothing. What would be done with that money has not been decided.

Mayor Glen Armstrong said that his feelings on the matter are, “Take these concessions and close Little St.”

Long time citizen from north of the tracks, Lorraine McDonald said, “We have paid for a lot of things we don’t have like sidewalks and we are happy. I think Little should stay open.”

Mayor Armstrong said it is now up to council to decide what to do. As for when they will make that decision he was uncertain.