4 November 2010

Lanark County Makes Last-Minute Plea to Feds to Save Valley Rail Line

Ottawa Ontario - The Mayor of Mississippi Mills wants the federal government to stop the dismantling of the Mattawa to Smiths Falls rail line.
 
The 167-kilometre stretch from Mattawa on the Ottawa River south to Smiths Falls, part of the Ottawa Valley Railway, is at risk of demolition after Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. failed to find an interested private-sector buyer.
 
"Loss of this railway will be a disaster for the Ottawa Valley," said Mississippi Mills Mayor Al Lunney, who is speaking on behalf of Lanark County.
 
In a statement released Thursday, Lunney said the municipalities involved don't have the resources to buy the line.
 
"The property tax base simply cannot sustain such a purchase. What we need is for the federal government to halt the process so that all stakeholders, private and public, have an opportunity to get to the table and figure out how we can save this railway line. Once the track is gone, it is gone forever."
 
Last January, CPR announced its intention to sell the Ottawa Valley Railway between Smiths Falls and Sudbury. In early October, RailAmerica signed a five-year lease for the section of track between Sudbury, Mattawa, and Temiscaming, but the stretch from Mattawa to Smiths Falls is still on the block.
 
Under a legislated timetable, the federal government has until Friday to make an offer. The province will have until 6 Dec 2010, followed by OC Transpo until 5 Jan 2011 and then municipalities until 4 Feb 2011. The rail line is being offered at net salvage value, with estimates ranging upwards of $90 million for the steel. If there are no successful negotiations, CPR can proceed to dismantle the track and sell off the assets.
 
"This is a major economic development issue for an area that has already been hit hard by the recession," said Lunney. "If the line is dismantled we will lose the ability to sustain and attract new industry that requires rail service. We lose opportunities for new ventures, such as tourist trains. At a time when passenger rail service is considered the way of the future in terms of environmental sustainability, we immediately lose out on inter-city commuter opportunities between all the small and large centres along that line."
 
The Ottawa Valley Railway, he added, is a natural extension of the Montreal-Ottawa network and bypasses congestion in Toronto, providing easy access to western markets as well as to shipping ports in Montreal and beyond.
 
Lunney noted CFB Petawawa uses the line to mobilize equipment for long-distance manoeuvres.
 
"This will add to congestion on our municipal roads, not to mention the increased risk of hazardous materials on the roads and the wear and tear," said Lunney.
 
The county has sent letters to federal and provincial ministers urging their assistance with this matter and is in the process of attempting to meet with MP Chuck Strahl, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities.
 
Catherine Lawson.