Re: “A few answers for the letter writer on the rail fence” (St. Albert Gazette, Your Views, April 3)
This response contains several glaring errors that need to be addressed for the safety of everyone in St. Albert.
Firstly, a person is still trespassing at a Public Crossing at Grade (Level Crossing) and can be charged if they are involved in an accident with a train at such a crossing (Rail Safety Act 26.2: Road users to give way). Pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles are permitted to cross the tracks at these points, but the train always has the right of way as the tracks are the railway’s property.
Secondly, the fence is not vandal-proof, nor built with galvanized steel, nor does it have a base several feet deep into the ground. It is a plain, simple chain link fence, the same that can be seen in many people’s backyards. It is only a few feet high, can easily be scaled, and in most places the bottom of the fence isn't even in contact with the ground. It can easily be cut with bolt cutters. It stops several feet away from every crossing and can easily be walked around if going over, under or through is deemed to require too much effort. The “Minimum Standards” as described bear no resemblance to the fence in reality.
Lastly, industrial spurs most definitely do apply to St. Albert. There is an industrial spur on the east end of the city which services several businesses in the Campbell Business Park. This spur is located between Veness Road, Boudreau Road, Campbell Road and Carleton Drive.
And while not a spur, the railway does also deliver rail cars to Pro-Western Plastics on the city’s west side. This results in several forward and backward movements beside Sir Winston Churchill Avenue near Riel Drive. People living across the street have likely seen this happen.
