City’s executive committee all aboard next planning step for moving rail lines

The City of Regina is choo-chooing on to the next step for moving the rail tracks near Winnipeg Street off of the Ring Road and potentially to the northeast side of the city.

On Wednesday, the city’s executive committee voted unanimously to accept a city administration report that looks at costs and options for getting the tracks moved away from the busy commuter roadway.

Mayor Michael Fougere said the chance to move the tracks is a good opportunity for the city to help alleviate drivers’ anger over delays and traffic jams at the railway crossings.

“(We) can untangle a lot of frustrations by residents, and we can see things go forward in a positive way,” he said.

He also referenced the runaway rail car that randomly rolled away from the Co-op Oil refinery in 2016, making its way past Albert Street behind the Toys ‘R Us building.

Moving the tracks reduces the risk that such an incident would happen again, he said.

“Heaven forbid that didn’t have any flammable liquid in that container, and there was no car that crossed over one of the level crossings that would have hit (the rail car), including on the Ring Road,” the mayor said.

Fougere said accidents like that “happen by chance.”

“Rail lines go through the heart of our city, and we are always to some degree at risk for what could possibly happen,” he said.

Along with accepting the report, the committee voted unanimously to approve a motion brought forward by Fougere — to get a memorandum of understanding with CN and CP.

That way, any future plans won’t get derailed down the line, he said.

The report will now be brought forward and presented at the city council meeting on Aug. 26.

The report can be viewed here, starting on page 97 of the PDF file.