28 March 2006
Crossing Tracks May be Deadly
Whitby - The Town will help pay for heavy-duty fencing near All Saints Catholic
School to prevent students from cutting across the nearby railway tracks, but if Councillor Pat Perkins had her way, she says she would
hand the entire $37,000 bill over to the Catholic school board.
She said it's "ridiculous" that the Town of Whitby should have to pay for fencing to prevent students from using the tracks as
a path to and from school, and that instead of the Town and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) splitting the cost, it should go directly to
the school board.
"I just can't support this absolute waste of taxpayers money for something the board should do; I think they should be humiliated
into doing it," Coun. Perkins said. "The fencing would not be a requirement if the schools weren't there. It's not our
responsibility."
Trespassing on the tracks in the vicinity of Rossland Road West and the West Otter Creek subdivision has been a constant concern of
local police and the CPR in recent years. In January, CPR officials conducted a safety blitz and charged a number of young people with
illegally crossing the railway tracks. Of the 24 charges laid, 22 were students from All Saints and two were from Donald A. Wilson
Secondary School, to the south.
A chain link fence was previously put in near the tracks, but it was constantly cut or opened up, the Town said. The new fence will be
eight feet in height and consist of a heaver six-gauge mesh to discourage cutting when it is put in this summer.
"It's a very dangerous habit. Kids take a short cut and it could be a shortcut to their lives," Councillor Joe Drumm said.
Tony Prevedel, director of public works, said the Town has no authority to invoice the school board to pay for the fencing, but that
the tracks represent a "serious safety concern" that must be immediately addressed.
A further $70,000 has been identified to make the fencing continuous to Donald A. Wilson Secondary School, and CPR police in conjunction
with All Saints Catholic Secondary School have developed a railway safety program to discourage students from using the tracks as a
crossing.
"Every one of us would rather not be spending $70,000 on fencing. We'll never know if we save a life, but it only takes one (death)
for it to be worth 10 times that," said Councillor Mark McKinnon, who represents the ward the schools are in.
Mayor Marcel Brunelle said in the future the Town can ask the school boards for their assistance in these matters, but for the time
being, he asked council not to worry over "nickels and dimes."
"Coun. McKinnon is right: we cannot take a chance of having one young person on there and losing their life. It's not worth
it," the mayor said. "They're our children... and we wouldn't want to lose one of them."
Ultimately, the motion to split the cost of the fencing passed unanimously.
The trespassing situation will continue to be monitored by CPR police. Trespassing on the tracks carries a fine of $120 for persons
over the age of 16. Younger offenders are required to attend court.
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