After many months of Westlock residents running afoul of CN Rail, it’s good to see a potential solution is in the offing.
For months, many people have reported receiving tickets from CN Rail police for walking across the tracks into and out of downtown.
Crossing the tracks to get to and from downtown is technically trespassing, not to mention highly unsafe, so CN Rail is well within its rights to try to prevent people from wandering onto its property.
And while a train is not likely to sneak up on anyone, being extremely loud, there are nonetheless many risks that come with trying to cross an active rail line.
Unfortunately, in Westlock, crossing an active rail line is a fact of life that is not likely ever to be eliminated. Admittedly, most of the town is on one side of the tracks, but the entire west industrial park and Whissellville are on the other.
For many people living in Whissellville, crossing the tracks by the defunct SAAN store is the only logical place to get into downtown, as the other options are simply too far out of the way.
The genesis of the solution came out at the Oct. 15 town council meeting, when Whissellville resident Thea Talsma presented arguments for why a safer way across the tracks needs to be put in place.
Her recommendations ranged from the expensive and somewhat impractical — a bridge over the tracks —to the much more practical and cost-effective solution of improved sidewalks and lighting at the east and west ends of 108 Street.
Councillors also moved to try to set up a meeting with CN Rail officials to get their ideas on ways to allow people to quickly cross the tracks, yet remain safe while doing so.
It’s likely going to take much creativity, as with Westlock Terminals expanding, more and more rail traffic is likely headed to Westlock.
Hopefully something can be done to please both parties.
