CP wants Montreal to consider alternatives to pedestrian rail crossings
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
In response to the city of Montreal's submission to the Canadian Transportation Agency requesting the installation of six pedestrian level crossings in various locations along Canadian Pacific's property
in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, Outremont and surrounding boroughs, the railroad issued a statement asking the city to consider alternatives.
“The safe operation of trains through the communities in which we operate is a priority for CP. Crossing safety is a key aspect of this commitment. CP reviewed this request in great detail with consultation of rail safety experts and has concluded that it cannot approve the construction of at-grade pedestrian crossings in these corridors owing to operational imperatives and public safety concerns,” the railroad stated.
CP continued, “CP appreciates that the residents may feel inconvenienced and we have voluntarily extended the offer to work collaboratively with the city on exploring safer solutions for pedestrians, including grade-separated crossings and improvements in both access and conditions of the existing viaducts. As the city has repeatedly declined the opportunity to explore these alternatives, the matter must now be handled with the assistance of the Canadian Transportation Agency.”
CP reviewed the report issued by the city of Montreal last fall and notes that while the report includes a recommendation on the preferred locations for the six at-grade crossings based on where most of the illegal trespassing is occurring, there is no analysis exploring grade-separated solutions.
