For years, the Hamlet of Lac La Biche has been home to a CN rail-switching yard. Located between The Bargain Shop and Rona, the yard is where cars are shunted from track to track – routinely blocking the hamlet’s two north-south streets.
Because of the constant traffic delays – and the occupation of key downtown real estate – Lac La Biche County Council is working toward moving the operation out of town.
“We have been looking at the possibility of moving the yard for quite some time,” said Lac La Biche County Mayor Peter Kirylchuk.
Although the delays – which can last as long as 15 minutes – are nuisance enough, the mayor said the major concern is the potential to trap ambulances, fire trucks, and police speeding to emergencies.
If necessary, emergency personnel have the authority to have CN move the trains off the tracks – but Kirylchuk said any delay is too long when lives are at stake.
“It’s the safety factor,” he said. “When you have a train blocking both roads, five minutes is too long for an emergency vehicle to wait.”
Local RCMP and fire department officials told the Post that they frequently encounter trains blocking their way to a call. However, due to the political nature of the discussions, they declined to issue any official statement.
A spokesperson with CN also declined to comment, calling the talks “confidential.”
Kirylchuk said county administration has spent many hours speaking with CN. However, it appears all the talk hasn’t created a solution and council is forming a committee dedicated to moving the yards out of town. Consisting of councillors and community members, the mayor said the committee will lobby the provincial – and possibly federal – government if that’s what it takes to get results.
“We’re trying the political route,” Kirylchuk explained. “Our MLA is Minister of Transportation – it never hurts to have a politician like [Ray] Danyluk backing and supporting us. Maybe we could ask [Fort McMurray-Athabasca MP] Brian Jean to get an audience on a federal level.”
As far as a new location, he noted there is plenty of land available west of the hamlet. Although the costs for the move and when it would happen are still up in the air, Kirylchuk said the benefits of moving the yard would be “huge.”
“It would free up lands that could be used for parking or other ventures,” he said. “It creates possibilities and would be much less disruptive for residents.”
County administration should be making more information on the CN rail yard committee available to the public in early December.
