Commuter trains touted for region
Eva Ferguson, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, July 11, 2008
Facing gas price hikes and rapid growth just like the big city, Calgary's bedroom communities are floating a $500-million plan to double existing heavy rail lines that would create a commuter rail system connecting them to existing LRT.
On the heels of this week's $2-billion provincial funding announcement for public transit, officials in Airdrie, Cochrane and Okotoks are expected to meet in the next month to look at speeding up development of commuter rail, hoping to have it done within five years.
The goal would be to either build rails alongside existing CP Rail lines south and west of the city, or use abandoned CN tracks in the north. Publicly run commuter buses are also planned to start in some districts in two years to deal with burgeoning growth.
"We have to do this, and look at all options possible," said Airdrie Ald. Richard Seimens on Thursday, arguing politicians have to do the right thing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help commuters avoid rising gas prices at the pump.
"There's no question something like this would be extremely well used."
Building a new rail line east of the city's existing McKnight LRT station into Airdrie, combined with the city's long-term plan to extend to Calgary airport, has been discussed, Siemens says.
But a cheaper alternative, he added, could be to run a commuter line along the existing abandoned CN Rail line just west of Deerfoot Trail, which becomes Highway 2 to Airdrie.
"That may even be more feasible as the Balzac mall becomes more of a reality," he said.
Construction is underway on a mammoth entertainment complex in Balzac, just south of Airdrie and beside Highway 2, anchored by a horseracing track and what would be the Calgary area's largest shopping mall.
Beth Kish is a councillor for the town of Okotoks and also sits on the Calgary Regional Partnership, a coalition of 18 towns and cities and one native band working to come up with a land-use plan for the area surrounding Calgary.
She says creating a commuter link through heavy rail is a "no-brainer" south of the city and can't happen soon enough.
"We can't wait -- we shouldn't wait for the population to keep growing," said Kish, explaining that nearly 80,000 Calgarians are regular users of the business districts in Okotoks, High River and the surrounding area.
Kish explained CP Rail lines already run alongside the south leg of the LRT, and could either be doubled or shared.
"In Okotoks, we get eight to 12 trains on the CP tracks daily, so there's a lot of room for a larger capacity."
Cochrane Mayor Truper McBride said recent meetings of the Calgary Regional Partnership had CP Rail officials estimate that doubling heavy rail lines to Airdrie, Okotoks/High River and Cochrane would cost about $500 million.
And with a $2-billion promise from the province, the price tag could be feasible, he added.
"This is completely possible. It will become a reality for us."
McBride added 60 per cent of Cochrane commutes to Calgary right now, about 8,500 people.
CP Rail spokesman Mike Lovecchio said he couldn't confirm a price tag for doubling lines, but said the company would be happy to continue to guide Calgary's outlying towns and cities in building a commuter system.
Business-wise, he added, doubling heavy rail infrastructure benefits CP because the region would have to lease its lines.
"It's certainly an opportunity we'd like to explore, but the decisions aren't made. At this stage, it's just speculative, but we'll continue the dialogue."
eferguson@theherald.canwest.com
© The Calgary Herald 2008
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