With the Abbotsford News reporting earlier this week about the possibility of several 2-km-long coal trains coming through downtown Abbostford every day, we decided to ask Deputy City Manager Jake Rudolph to help our readers understand what is going on.
This afternoon we sent him a list of questions. His answers are published below:
Abbotsford Today: Reports indicate that municipalities in Washington State, as well as White Rock, Vancouver and perhaps other municipalities in BC have all expressed their desire not to host these trains within their city limits, why is it that Abbotsford agreed to the proposal?
Jake Rudolph: The City of Abbotsford has not taken a position on the issue of coal trains to date.
AT: Was this a council decision or a staff decision?
JR: Both Council and staff are aware of the train issue reported but again, the City has not made any decisions regarding it’s position on the matter.
AT: What is the process whereby the railway gains approval for such decisions?
JR: The Railways fall under Federal jurisdiction and I would recommend you contact either the railway or Transport Canada for information related to approvals, consultation and regulation.
AT: What public consultation, if any, was held about the decision?
JR: Same as answer above
AT: Was the ADBA consulted before the decision was made?
JR: I recommend you contact ADBA directly to seek their views.
AT: Was the health and well-being of the homeless protesters at the TeePee or the homeless men and women living in camps along the railway corridor taken into account when the decision was made?
JR: The homeless camps in the railway corridor are a concern for a number of reasons. Safety is a particular concern where camps are within the railway right of way. Use of the railway lands for railway purposes is a permitted activity. Homeless camps are not.
AT: Do citizens who object to the decision have any recourse at this point?
JR: The homeless camps in the railway corridor are a concern for a number of reasons. Safety is a particular concern where camps are within the railway right of way. Use of the railway lands for railway purposes is a permitted activity. Homeless camps are not.
AT: From a safety point of view, both the crossings at Essendene and George Ferguson could be tied up for up to 5 minutes at the same time. How will this effect emergency services, police, fire and ambulance?
JR: Another valid question. Emergency services are a concern and each of the noted services require contingency strategies in response to a variety of scenarios. Train crossings are a concern in many jurisdictions with municipalities contending with ever longer trains. I recommend you direct your enquiries to the service providers directly for specific answers on their respective areas of responsibilities.
AT: With the increase in rail traffic through downtown Abbotsford, how adequately is Abbotsford prepared to deal with a train derailment?
JR: Train derailments are a risk hazard identified in the emergency preparedness program. The risk will vary with the commodity, location , speed of travel. etc. The risk associated with a derailment of coal trains is different than a chemical tanker for example. The railways have emergency activation plans and the Fire Department, in particular, is trained to address incidents of this nature. The emergency program would enable resources to be coordinated should issues other than localized impacts occur. We have a strong inter departmental and inter agency emergency program currently lead by Chief Beer.
Come on Jake, not everyone in Abbotsford is a mushroom! Some of us see the light of day and do not have to be fed what was spread on the homeless camp a year ago.
What is the agenda? Are you (the City), trying to “broker” a deal with the railway for the Vye Road overpass? You know, something like, “if we turn a blind eye to the rumbling, dirty, empty coal cars full of coal dust running through the middle of our ‘historic downtown’, will you help us with the Vye Road overpass?”
Come on Jake, tell us all the truth!