Chatham-Kent council has directed administration to report back on the number and condition of rail crossings in Wallaceburg and the cost of removing them, following a motion from Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall.
The motion was approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda at council’s Aug. 10 meeting.
The motion notes that improving sustainable mobility and integrating Complete Streets design into all right-of-way projects is a priority for this term of council, and that a Sustainable Mobility Master Plan focused on cycling, transit, pedestrian accessibility and roadway infrastructure is currently underway.
It also notes that several rail crossings in Wallaceburg have not been used for rail in several years, that a rail crossing on Dufferin Avenue was paved over during a recent road rehabilitation project, and that community members in Wallaceburg have raised concerns about the condition and usefulness of rail crossings across the community.
As a result, administration has been directed to present an open session report to council on the number of rail crossings in Wallaceburg, their condition and the cost to remove them. The report is also to include a status and property standards update on the rail bridge over the Sydenham River in Wallaceburg.
Administration has further been directed to prepare a presentation for the new council in closed session on the history and current status of the rail system throughout Wallaceburg.
Staff said the motion itself carries no cost implications, though recommendations arising from the report could bring forward options with cost implications for council to vote on at that time. Staff estimated the report would take about three months to complete.
