The town has two pedestrian railway crossings in its 10-year Financial Strategy but to move on these we’d need to have Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) approval. One of the crossings in the strategy would be a pedestrian crossing to join The Quarry with historic downtown, and the other would be a vehicle and pedestrian crossing located at Horse Creek Road.
These crossings may be in the strategy but gaining building approval is challenging as CPR opposes additional crossings of their main line and puts municipalities through a long and hard process to gain the right to cross their tracks.
Town of Cochrane officials are scheduled to meet with CPR representatives on Sept. 12 to request approvals or clarify the next steps, which may require us to take the matter to Transport Canada.
The necessity for these crossings is a matter of public safety. With no pedestrian crossing west of the downtown area, residents are compelled to cross at uncontrolled crossings or walk from the town’s western boundaries to Fifth Avenue for a designated crossing.
In the absence of established crossings, I have crossed the tracks at Horse Creek Road. (In case you are wondering how a visually impaired person cycles, I have included a photo of me on a tandem bike.)
I have also noticed many other people are crossing at this point as well. Other cyclists, walkers going to our river park system (including moms and dads with children) are using Horse Creek Road to cross given that they have no other realistic choice.
CPR made a presentation to town council last year after two tragic railway deaths in Cochrane. The position that CPR wanted to impress on the town was that education and stronger methods to deter people from CPR property were required. The CPR representatives told town council that CPR has no interest in constructing any more at-grade crossings within the Town of Cochrane. It instead proposed the town construct over- or underpasses which would cost millions of dollars.
Controlled at-grade crossings are the easiest and preferred choice for most pedestrians, and the least expensive to build. The pedestrian crossing that currently exists in the east end of Cochrane is a great example of a safe, functional and well-used crossing.
The town is of the view that the two new pedestrian crossings it is proposing are very important to resident safety, and I fully support them. Our challenge is to obtain CPR approval. I believe these projects, if approved, would serve our residents well.
