CP Railway crossing concerns discussed at City council

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CP railway crossing concerns discussed at City council meeting

By Lori Larsen

During the City of Camrose regular council meeting held on November 7, administration presented a verbal report to council regarding a petition (noted to be not legally based) being circulated in the City focusing on citizen concern and subsequent request for the construction of a real Railway underpass or overpass for the CP line.

“This has been a long running concern, particularly for members of the community that live on the north side of that railway track,” explained City of Camrose manager Malcolm Boyd. “The concern being that fire, medical or police emergency services would be hindered in their ability to get to the north side if the railway crossings are blocked.”

Boyd said there are crossings on 39th, 48th which turns into 47th and 53rd and 68th Street.

He further explained that a few years prior, in response to concerns over crossings, the City attempted a pilot project with a company from Winnipeg looking at the installation of microphones at strategic locations. “Those micro phones were connected to some artificial intelligence that would be able to predict when crossings were going to be blocked and then provide that as a graphic to the dispatchers,” said Boyd. “The pilot never really got off the ground and there was not a lot of interest from dispatch because I don’t think it presented itself as a real issue.”

Boyd said that since that time valid concerns keep arising over this issue, prompting ongoing discussions with CP and CN about rail crossings noting that the CN crossing has an existing underpass on 48th Avenue and that most recent discussion with CP resulted in the following.

Consideration of simple camera installations at a few strategic locations which would involve putting up some networked cameras and providing that as a tool for the dispatchers enabling them to look both ways down the track to see if there is a train coming.

“That at least gives the dispatchers some ability to reroute emergency services vehicles to get around the train,” said Boyd. “That is one option and while it is not something that is currently budgeted, it certainly could be.”

Boyd said that in discussion with CP on the construction of an underpass/

overpass, the feedback CP provided indicated that typically this is a $30 to $40 million structure.

“We simply do not have the space on 48th or 53rd to build that structure without appropriating a lot of private residences and maybe impacting the school,” noted Boyd. “So the only potentially feasible location would be on 68th.”

Another option Boyd discussed was a conceptual engineering study to determine what the footprint of the construction of an underpass/overpass would look like, enabling the City to lockdown the right of ways and prevent any development in the future in that area.

“The other thing that came out of the discussion with CP was that in recognizing local interest in this, they are going to start doing efficiency testing–tracking what their typical road blockage times are and do some testing around that. They promised they will start that as soon as possible and the local operators will be made aware.”

CP also informed Boyd of potential funding from the federal program (National Trade Corri-

dor Fund). “This typically funds 50 cent/dollars and CP would typically chip in something as well, maybe five per cent. But again it is a $30 to $40 million project so we are probably looking at $15 million plus from the municipality to get something like this done.”

Boyd also mentioned the current ongoing work the City is doing with CP to bring the pedestrian underpass adjacent to Bullrush Park, to fruition. “There is some potential to looking at making that incrementally larger. It wouldn’t be a permanent traffic route but make it large enough so that it was not intended for traffic, but was possible for something the size of an ambulance or police car to go through in emergency circumstances.”

He also spoke to the worst case scenario of being able to cross to the other side in the event an oversized train has an accident on 39 Street and ends up blocking off all four crossings.

“They do have protocol for breaking train and notifying our dispatch if they believe there is going to be a blockage. The regulations allow them to stop stationary for five minutes and

then the wording in the regulations is they ‘must clear the crossing expeditiously.’”

Boyd also noted that CP said the worst case scenario of a train stopped blocking the crossing and is a single engine train, may not be impossible but it is very unlikely. “They don’t see that happening, at least not trains going to Cargill, which is where these trains are going.”

While not discounting the concern, Boyd said a number of circumstances would have to be present for this to become an issue.

“I think some of the things we can do to help ourselves is to investigate the potential use of cameras for dispatch and to at least start capital planning for the concept engineering.”

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

Railway crossings raise concerns from citizens regarding possible blockage by a train, specifically when an emergency vehicles needs to cross. Council inquires

Mayor PJ Stasko indicated that when he first became a councillor for the City, he looked into this particular issue. “I was surprised at what the alternatives were, that being 68 Street and the price tag.”

Councillor Kevin Hycha asked for clarification on the study being proposed by CP.

Boyd replied, “They call it ‘efficiency testing’–trying to make sure their operations are not blocking crossings off needlessly.”

Boyd added, “Knowing a lot of the trains are going to Cargill, obviously it takes a long time to stop a train and it has to be stopped before it hits Cargill. They are already slowing down as they come through.”

Councillor Don Rosland said, “As a resident of Victoria Park on the north side of CP tracks, we have waited for trains and tried to drive around trains to get home. I can understand the issues with emergency services. When I was with Camrose Fire I made contact with CP inquiring about (CFD) having a direct line to their communications to get fire trucks through.

“This is one thing that we have to keep on our radar and if the opportunity comes, we should try to get CP representatives in front of council to hear what they have to say.”

Councillor David Francoeur asked how emergency vehicles currently are dealing with getting around trains on crossings.

Boyd replied that likely what occurs is the emergency responders, once on route, would look to see if there is an alternative route if there is a train blocking the crossing, because dispatch does not have any visual on the tracks/trains.

On a final note Boyd indicated that the petition currently circulating in the City regarding concern over the crossing is, from his understanding, not an issue that can be petitioned, not a legal petition. “That doesn’t, however, mean a bunch of residents can’t get together and lobby council for action to be taken.”

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The Bethany Group Faith and Aging Conference

By Lori Larsen

The Bethany Group hosted over 300 attendees, at the annual Faith and Aging conference held at the Norsemen Inn, on Friday, November 4.

This year’s theme “Music and Mental Health” was presented by guest speakers music therapist and author Jennifer Buchanan, Terry Stuart from The Awesome Music Project and Juno Award nominee Peter Katz.

Buchanan presented information based on how music can improve mood, memory and motivation. Her presentation covered real stories that demonstrated how music can reduce stress and anxiety, while igniting creativity that is needed to develop new ideas and solve problems.

Stuart, co-founder with musician Rob Carlie of The Awesome Music Project, a charitable foundation focused on leveraging the healing power of music to address mental wellness and mental health challenges, shared personal anecdotes with the attendees and provided vital information on how to use music to benefit mental health and

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

The Bethany Group 2022 Faith and Aging Conference theme was ‘Mental Health and Music’ and featured guest speakers Terry Stuart centre and Jennifer Buchanan right, pictured here with The Bethany Group education manager Janelle Wallace, left. The Bethany Group 2022 Faith and Aging conference held on November 25 featured guest speaker Peter Katz, pictured here with Bethany Group executive director Carla Beck, left.

mental well-being.

Katz, international recording artist, used his musical talents and keynote presentation to present on how music can be used to deal with anxiety and stresses of life.

“The speakers shared about the powerful connection between music, memories, vulnerability, and leaning into one another for connection,” said The Bethany Group communications advisor Abby Mallard. “Emotions were high as they spoke candidly about their and their families’ struggles with mental health, and how they utilized the power (and the science) of music.”

Attendees of the daylong conference were also given the opportunity to network with one another and view a video of the incredible 100th year history of The Bethany Group.

For more information on The Bethany Group, visit the website at www.thebethanygroup.ca.