Railway companies ‘essential’ to Ring Road plans, mayor says

Regina Mayor Michael Fougere underscored the need to get CN and CP Rail on board with the city’s vision to reroute the tracks from Ring Road to the north end of the city, saying the idea cannot proceed without their co-operation.

Speaking on The Greg Morgan Morning Show on Tuesday, Fougere said talks have gone well so far but he wants something in writing.

“They have so far been very responsive and very positive but we want what’s called the MOU — Memorandum of Understanding — so (when) we move forward on designing the work itself and looking for federal, provincial funding, that they’re still on board with the relocation,” Fougere said.

“They’re essential. If they’re not on board, then this project just goes away.”

The plan, which still needs council approval, would be to remove the tracks from Ring Road and lay new ones that would join the existing tracks near Highway 6 and Armour Road.

The cost is estimated at about $107 million, with the city hopeful that the federal government will contribute to the project.

“There’s a public mood for this and certainly our council wants it to happen. Fingers crossed, we can get this thing done,” Fougere said.

Capital Pointe, concert shuttle snafu

Elsewhere in the city, Fougere said that filling the Capital Pointe hole is 60-per-cent complete.

He added that the plans are on track to fill the hole by October.

The mayor also weighed in on Friday’s Garth Brooks concert. He didn’t like how many people were left standing in the rain at shuttle pickup points once a storm hit.

“Standing in the rain, I think people should just be put in buses and wait. A bit of a communication issue and we need to fix that,” Fougere said.

“In this kind of situation, I think logic and being compassionate, understanding is really important. People are standing in the rain, it’s thundering down rain. Go in the buses, stay dry and get ready to go to the concert.”