28 February 2007
Massive Container Yard Development Proposed for Regina
Regina Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan and Regina politicians
hope an ambitious new rail yard relocation plan will transform the Regina economy and turn the city into a transportation hub for
Western Canada.
The province and the city are pitching a proposal to Ottawa to move the downtown-area Canadian Pacific Railway container
yards outside the city, CBC News has learned.
It's the first step in a dream to bring trucks, trains and planes together in one place, and it could be worth $1 billion in economic
activity, according to a spokesman for the Regina Regional Economic Development Authority.
"I haven't used this number, but others have, that potentially, ultimately, there could be $1 billion worth of investment developed
around a facility such as this," Larry Hiles said.
Proponents say the proposal makes sense because Regina would become one of the few Canadian cities with its airport, rail lines and
major highways all in the same place.
"A lot of our specialty crop producers are looking for containers but they have a hard time accessing them today because we don't
have enough volume... and we don't have the facilities to collect those containers," Hiles said. "This would help both on the
incoming and the outgoing side."
Moving the container yards would also free up prime land in the middle of the city.
The province, which is looking for federal money to jump-start the project, made its pitch to Ottawa in January.
The city, the province, the CPR and local businesses have already said they support the plan and land is being scouted west of the city.
Hiles said he thinks the plan has a shot at succeeding because it's simple and makes good business sense.
Ground could be broken as early as spring 2008 if Ottawa supports the project, he said.
|
