Saskatoon Saskatchewan - Saskatoon city council has expressed some hesitancy about climbing aboard the rail relocation express.
 
Council voted Monday to leave the door open to considering underpasses or overpasses where train tracks cross roadways, even as it approved continuing to study rail relocation.
 
The city previously commissioned a study to determine the best course of action to address costly delays at railway crossings.
 
The consultants came back suggesting the city focus on relocation of the Canadian Pacific (CP) line rather than underpasses or overpasses.
 
Neither CP relocation nor building underpasses or overpasses represents an option in which the cost outweighs the tangible economic benefits, the study concluded.
 
"It's not about further work, it's about the opportunity for further discussion," Coun. Hilary Gough said.
 
Gough represents Ward 2, which is affected by the CP line that crosses 22nd Street and by the Canadian National (CN) tracks that can impede entry to or exit from the Montgomery neighbourhood.
 
Council voted unanimously to continue to study relocation of the CP line.
 
Gough's idea to continue to consider underpasses or overpasses to address railway crossing delays passed 8-2, with Coun. Troy Davies, Coun. Bev Dubois and Coun. Darren Hill opposed.
 
Mayor Charlie Clark supported Gough, but expressed some hesitancy about considering underpasses or overpasses.
 
"I still think they are a long shot," Clark said.
 
Conversely, during the 2016 election he rejected the idea of considering rail relocation, dismissing it as unrealistic due to costs.
 
Now council seems intent on embracing the idea of relocation, despite Gough's idea to keep the underpass/overpass discussion going.
 
The city-commissioned study by HDR Corporation estimated the cost of rail relocation at $589.7 million, much lower than previous estimates.
 
Building overpasses or underpasses at nine locations is estimated to cost $374.4 million.
 
"I do believe we've got some problems in this city," Coun. Randy Donauer said of continuing to look at underpasses and overpasses.
 
Rural municipality of Corman Park Reeve Judy Harwood said last week that she was told this month by a CP official that the rail giant has no intention of moving its line out of Saskatoon.
 
The study suggests moving the CP line south of the city onto Corman Park land.
 
Phil Tank.