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NOMA passes resolution looking for train speed restrictions within communities

THUNDER BAY – A number of regional leaders are looking at controlling the speed limits of trains passing through the heart of their municipalities.
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(tbnewswatch.com file photograph)

THUNDER BAY – A number of regional leaders are looking at controlling the speed limits of trains passing through the heart of their municipalities.

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association passed a resolution during their annual general assembly last week calling on the federal government to amend the Railway Act, allowing municipalities to set their own speed limits.

NOMA president and Kenora mayor Dave Canfield said the resolution was brought forward to protect populated areas.

“These trains can go through communities at (80 kilometres) per hour and with the derailments we’ve had and some of the disasters it’s an accident looking for a place to happen,” Canfield said.

“Going through a built up area at (80 kilometres) per hour is not acceptable.”

Rail companies have already self-imposed speed limits in certain areas, such as 50 kilometres per hour in Thunder Bay and 60 kilometres per hour in Fort Frances.

But in some smaller towns the trains travel at a much faster rate.

Canfield made it clear the speed limits would not extend completely within the entire municipality boundary but just in higher density areas.

“We’re not saying to slow down to (50 kilometres) per hour from the beginning of the community to outside the community. We’re just talking about the built up area, which is not going to be a big area in most of those communities,” he said.

“For a very small portion of that track to slow down to (50 kilometres) per hour is asking too much and I would think the railroads in the name of safety and their care and concern for the communities would want to do this anyway.”

NOMA board member and Fort Frances Coun. Ken Perry said the hope is each community can work together with the railways to come to an agreeable limit.

“If the municipalities that have a built up area like Emo, Rainy River and Fort Frances can do an agreement with the railroad it would be much better than forcing them to reduce their speed to say (50 kilometres) per hour,” Perry said.

The resolution is being forwarded to federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, the provincial government and area MPs and MPPs.





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