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Background
Most communities in Canada grew up around the railway tracks
Municipal governments have growing influence
As population and transportation needs have grown, there have been more conflicts between people and trains
Both rural and urban municipalities are affected
Common Interests
Both Need:1. Safety Commitment2. Reduced pollution3. Reduced congestion4. Efficient land use5. Minimal costs6. Good transportation
systems
Proximity Problems
1. Noise, vibration, vegetation control2. Safety and Dangerous Goods3. Mitigation costs – who pays?4. Construction and maintenance
responsibility5. Crossing safety and congestion6. Urban corridors – grade separations, land
banking, prime urban land7. Integrity and expansion capacity of rail
facilities
Proximity context Result of community, economic growth,
24/7 rail network operations Both contribute to the problems – land use
planning and development; business expansion, changes in rail operations
Community Outreach Projects
1. Railway – Community Proximity Initiative
2. Dangerous Goods – Transportation Community Awareness and
Emergency Response (TransCAER®)
1. Federation of Canadian Municipalities/RAC Proximity Initiative:
Industry and municipalities have been developing voluntary approaches
RAC/FCM signed Memorandum of Understanding in 2003
Established steering committee, three working groups, equal representation
MOU also supported by Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA)
Steering Committee Members
Co-chair Cynthia Lulham, Westmount, Que.
Co-chair John Dalzell, CN Municipal governments – Vancouver,
Edmonton, Blackfalds, AB; Toronto, Moncton, FCM
Rail industry – CN, CPR, short lines, RAC and passenger
Transport Canada and CTA are observers
Communications Committee
Purpose: Increase awareness and build understanding by key audiences
Developed communications plan Produced Good Neighbours video; on-
going FCM Conference participation; case studies; annual progress reports
Created continually-evolving Internet site www.proximityissues.ca
Website Objective
One Stop Shop for Canadian public, railways, municipal governments and other stakeholders for proximity contacts and reference materials
Enables better communication between all involved parties
Helps concerned individuals: Know who to contact Find out what information is available Raise awareness of emerging issues Assist in dispute resolution Provide proximity guidelines
Website Statistics (monthly)
Website launched in June 2004
Year Hits Page Views
2006 22000 8300
2005 19700 6400
2004 17700 5300
Dispute Resolution Committee
Purpose: Develop industry-wide protocol and a process for parties to address current concerns or disputes
Encourages resolution at local level before escalation to third-party intervention
Determines available options, best practices for dispute resolution including mediation, etc.
Many new Community Advisory Panels (CAP) established using protocol to resolve problems
Case Study: Gatineau, Que.
Short line acquired lines north of Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers
Restructured operations, began re-building the business
Key customers are three paper mills:
Bowater Domtar E.B. Eddy Papier Masson
Nearby residents complained of switching/ shunting noise, idling locomotives, train whistles at crossings
City asked railway to relocate operations
Vandalism, arson, trespassing, property damage
Case Study: Gatineau, Que.
Several meetings, but unproductive
Railway built security fences, hired guards
Residents felt train whistling for crossings, required by provincial law, was excessive
Conflict escalated
Case Study: Gatineau, Que.
Approached MTQ who agreed to modify crossings Municipality absorbed cost, with assistance from
Québec government and technical assistance from SL Bowater allowed railway to park idling locomotives at
paper mill in winter, away from residences Alleviated, but didn’t eliminate, noise of yard
operations Reduced train whistling at crossings through upgrade
Parties recognized need to work together through CAP:
Case Study: Conclusions
Parties gained a common understanding of each other’s issues and positions - essential to any dispute resolution
Developed trust and respect for each other Learned how to prevent a recurrence Developed a good working relationship - local Reality – Not all problems solved to everyone’s
satisfaction Avoid unnecessary legal costs bad press
Guidelines Committee
Purpose: Gain a common understanding of current and potential issues, produce development guidelines and best practices to: Raise awareness about railway/municipal
proximity and safety issues Provide model guidelines & policies for
Land use (private, municipal and railway) Safety, grade crossings, trespassing, DG, noise, etc.
Inform & influence railway & municipal practices
Inform and influence federal and provincial government policies, guidelines and regulations
Guidelines – Consulting Work
Terms of Reference established Earth Tech Canada and Jade Acoustics selected Consulting work managed by the Committee Consulting work divided into 3 phases:
Phase 1 looked at new land development Phase 2 looked at new or expanded rail
facilities and crossing related issues Phase 3 summary and final recommendations
Land Use Guidelines Project
Guideline Project – Findings
No consistent consultation protocols or land use appeal mechanisms
Municipal procedures vary nationally Need for increased integration of rail
transportation issues in land use planning Railway legislative / operating
environment could be better understood by non-railway stakeholders
Railways could be more sensitive to community concerns
Guidelines Project – Findings
Guidelines needed to ensure new developments: Reduce trespass potential Minimize effects of noise and vibration Provide appropriate protective buffers /
berms Do not negatively alter drainage patterns
Report outlines recommended specifications and standards
Canada Transportation Act
New legislation under CTA will: Complement MOU framework Require due diligence by parties to resolve
disputes before CTA gets involved CTA guidelines to focus on required
proximity elements and principles, not standards or thresholds
Promote protocols and recommended practices developed under MOU
Next steps
Renew MOU for another 3 years Promote national adoption and
implementation of land use guidelines Harmonize activities with new legislation Expand outreach and education strategies
2. TransCAER®
Developed, implemented and managed by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association
Chemical producers and transporters “do the right thing” for public safety
6 Codes of Practice The Transportation Code of Practice
includes TransCAER®
TransCAER®
A community outreach program that involves the public, municipal officials and first responders
Railways initiate and deliver these community outreach programs
Chemical Shippers often involved RAC DG Team leads in program
delivery
TransCAER®
Railways speak about Types and quantities of
dangerous goods shipped (including documents)
Railcar construction Track structure and signal
systems Rail operations safety Emergency response capabilities
Benefits
Communities Raised awareness of rail operations Pre-planning for emergencies Enhanced communications Develop trust, contacts with railways
Railways Spreading the message of safety Developing partnerships Opportunity to promote virtues of rail