INNISFAIL – A plan to create a regional passenger rail service from Calgary to Edmonton has been pitched to Innisfail council but failed to garner any immediate interest to write a letter of support.
Representatives from Alberta Regional Rail Inc. (ARRI) came to council’s Agenda & Priorities meeting on Jan. 17 and made a presentation about their bold plan, which has also been done in several other regional communities, including Olds, Didsbury, Bowden and Carstairs.
On Jan. 24 at council’s regular meeting, Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, told council that ARRI followed up their presentation will an email request for a letter of support.
“The letter of support is intended to gauge support from Highway 2 corridor municipalities for a regional passenger rail service,” said Becker in his report to council. He said the ARRI email included a template letter of support for council’s consideration.
Becker then sought council’s direction on whether it wanted to proceed with the request.
“I know there are a couple of other communities that have jumped on board right away but it’s my understanding in listening to our council is that there is an opportunity to get additional information before we commit,” said Coun. Jason Heistad. “I’m still sitting on it because I think the project is really cool but when you’re throwing something that is going to cost millions and millions of dollars and not knowing the rail safety or the tracks well enough, I think it would help us to have that additional information.”
Coun. Gavin Bates, said he echoed Heistad’s concern, adding the town frequently interacts with CP and wanted to know its opinion.
“I would be curious to know what their feelings are. I didn’t feel some of the questions that I asked were answered adequately about the logistics, and I guess I am a little concerned that if we just provide letters of support without some degree of what we are sure of what we’re supporting then our opinions down the road are maybe diluted,” said Bates, adding he wants more “credible” information on how ARRI would use the track with CP. “I still have reservations about an unrestricted letter of support.”
Coun. Janice Wing said it was “not unreasonable” to ask ARRI to stay in touch with the town as their plans become better positioned, particularly with their approaches to private financial institutions. She added the town would then be in a better position to say either yes or no to whether it could provide a letter of support.
Mayor Jean Barclay told council she attended a south-central mayors’ meeting earlier in the month and the issue was discussed as ARRI made presentations to other regional municipalities.
“Some people have jumped on board and some have not. This discussion will be part of that group’s discussion going forward as well,” said Barclay, adding she also heard a recent ARRI interview that stated tracks would have to be laid down to get the project started. “So, there would be a whole new set of tracks parallel with the existing tacks. So, it seems there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Barclay said she would also like to have discussions with CP, adding the town reached out to the rail company a few months to have a representative come to council for a presentation.
“I think for now we will just leave this and gather more information as time goes on, and go from there.”
