London city hall appears on the verge of pressing
senior government levels for money to build a
railroad overpass -- but politicians were split
yesterday over which crossings should be on the wish
list.
For years, the debate over building overpasses has
been strident but moot. While London has rail delays
many resident complain about, it can't afford costly
overpasses on its own and other partners haven't
come to the table.
But that last issue may have been solved when last
month the federal and Ontario governments said
they'd provide $6.2 billion to municipalities for
needed public works.
Councilor Roger Caranci renewed his call for an
overpass at Hale and Trafalgar streets -- a project
delayed because the federal government has pledged
nothing and CN only $2 million for a project
estimated at $12.8 million.
"The time has come . . . Hale-Trafalgar has to be on
any list that goes forward," Caranci told the city
council's environment and transportation committee.
The city has completed the first phase of building
an overpass, buying adjacent property that would be
needed.
An overpass would benefit CN by making its adjacent
yard much more efficient, reducing the time it takes
for rail cars to be added or removed from freight
trains.
But not everyone on the committee was so enthused.
Councilor Joni Baechler, long opposed to the
Hale-Trafalgar overpass, renewed her objection.
There's already an overpass 500 metres away on
Highbury Avenue, so it makes no sense to build
another, she said.
Baechler wants an overpass on Adelaide Street south
of Oxford Street -- a crossing staff says causes the
most disruption to city-wide traffic and the most
concern to firefighters and paramedics.
"There's a tremendous number of commuters who use
Adelaide," Baechler said.
Caranci agreed Adelaide should be a priority, but
only in tandem with Hale-Trafalgar, a position a
majority on the committee supported.
"The only way to get one is to put it together with
the other," Councilor Steve Orser said.
A study by The Free Press five years ago found
Londoners wait an estimated 440,000 hours a year at
level train crossings, delays that cost the economy
$7 million a year.
City staff expect to report to council in the fall
on a list of public works proposals that would
include overpasses.
Nov 13, 2008
