August 9 marked the anniversary of when Lamont Murphy died on the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and his mother said she still feels “hopeful” for a change.
“I wish that lessons be learned from history and from what I’ve heard, the message being told is that education is the only solution for railway safety, if that were true we wouldn’t need medians or stop signs or pedestrian crosswalks – I think education and safety measures are both necessary,” said Kari Murphy, mother to the late teen.
It was six months ago Murphy started advocating for increased railway safety in the community, reaching out to the Town of Cochrane and Canadian Pacific Railway to change and repair the chain link fence that runs alongside the tracks.
In recent weeks, Murphy received an update from the MP’s office with town documents showing plans for a new at-grade crossing linking Historical Downtown to Railway Street West making her “hopeful” for a change.
“From what I understand, it is a money issue and it always has been. So when I see frivolous things like digital signs and gross over budgets with swimming pools, it is hurtful that something basic like a fence and crossing are so low on the agenda,” Murphy said.
Mac de Beaudrap, the town’s senior manager with Protective Services, said safety is always a priority for Cochrane.
“Following the tragic events last summer, we worked closely with CP Rail and local mental health agencies to increase outreach activities in the schools and over social media,” de Beaudrap said.
“We continue to work with CP Rail, Operation Lifesaver – a rail safety initiative of the Railway Companies in Canada – Cochrane RCMP and CP Police on prevention.”
Town administration confirmed it is looking into adding another at-grade crossing to connect Historic Downtown.
“We are working with CP to get a crossing between the provincial building,” said Mike Korman, manager of economic development with the town.
“We will continue to talk about what the right solution is, as we recognize that crossing is a necessity and walkability would be beneficial in that area.”
Korman did acknowledge that funding was an issue but ensured that the project is in the 10-year strategy as administration has been working to get approval from CP Rail and has been in talks with the province.
“It is a long-term vision,” Korman said.
Lamont Murphy was one of two teens who died on the railway tracks last year. Jesse Dostaler was killed on the railway tracks on July 16 – both he and Lamont were 18.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to take the last year back and see change,” Kari said.
“It has been a year, now what? It is a message that needs to get out.”
