Two yard switchers at Alyth - Date/Photographer unknown.

18 January 2013

Alderman Wants Noise Study at Southeast Rail Yard to Stay on Track

Calgary Alberta - A noise study at a southeast rail yard is in danger of stopping in its tracks after Canadian Pacific Rail says it is backing out to compile its own data this summer.
 
But a city alderman says he doesn't want to see the Alyth yard study derailed, despite the fact CP had agreed to pay for half of the $150,000 project.
 
Ald. Gian-Carlo Carra says beleaguered residents in Inglewood living beside a noisy and busy rail yard want the Alyth yard study, which began in December 2011, to move forward.
 
"They're losing their minds, absolutely. It's extremely frustrating to the citizens," said the Ward 9 alderman.
 
The first phase of community consultation and case study, and legislation review is complete, and cost $70,000. The next phase is noise and environmental data collection, followed by a risk study.
 
That leaves the city on the hook for the remaining $80,000.
 
In a report to the city's priorities and finance committee, which is meeting Tuesday to discuss CP's plans, city administration is urging council to park the study for now.
 
But Carra says he wants to press ahead.
 
"I'm going to argue that we go ahead and fund the whole study with or without CP rails' formerly promised 50 percent participation," said Carra.
 
Although CP rail had agreed to pay for half the costs of the independent noise study, a Canadian Transportation Agency ruling last October ruled in favour of the Inglewood Community Association's rail yard noise and vibration complaint. That prompted CP to back out of the city's noise study to compile its own research.
 
CP says it's simply following the CTA's orders.
 
"We're following the proper process and we have been working collaboratively with them and the city, and we'll continue to do that in a responsible manner," said CP spokesman Kevin Hrysak.
 
"We are legally obligated to follow those lines in the CTA, but our objective remains to continue to work collaboratively with the city and the community to support whatever decision the city makes with whatever the timing is with the study, which is the collection of the data,"
 
Recently, CP has announced it would cut 4,500 jobs, and saw major management and board shakeups that may affect the long-term operation at Alyth yard.
 
Still, CP says it expects to do "long-standing business" in the Calgary district.
 
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi is also being urged to meet with newly installed CEO Hunter Harrison at CP to talk about short and long-term plans for CP's operations in Calgary, including the Alyth yard and southeast transit way.
 
"We've had no interaction with the new CEO and the company's going in all kinds of significantly different directions," said Carra. "We have to find a way to retouch base with CP rail and re-establish diplomatic relations. We need to have a conversation and establish our strategy for these negotiations."
 
The Alyth yard, located south from Blackfoot Trail to 42nd Avenue S.E., has been operated by the CPR for more than 100 years.
 
Inglewood residents say the noise, vibration, and air pollution from the yard are too much since the railway consolidated locomotive servicing work at Alyth and doubled the size of the operation.
 
Residents of Inglewood and Ramsay are asking the railway to stop operations at its Alyth yard during "reasonable hours" on weekday evenings and weekends.
 
Sherri Zickefoose.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada