Montreal seeks arbitration for rail crossings

Mayor Denis Coderre announced Tuesday that the city will seek arbitration with the Canadian Transportation Agency to settle the issue of developing six crossings for pedestrians and cyclists over rail lines of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Coderre said he’s been pushing for level crossings for a long time, but was not seeing results.

“I had several working meetings and mediation with CP to reach an agreement,” he said.

“But on Aug. 26, a Canadian Pacific VP confirmed to us through a letter that he refused our proposals for new passages.

“Our mediation stumbled, so our administration has no choice but to present a formal request to the Canadian Transportation Agency ... that will allow their construction,” Coderre said.

Montrealers have been asking for new level crossings for pedestrians and cyclists that would allow them to safely cross through CP rail corridors within the city, said Aref Salem, head of transportation on the city’s executive

committee.

Marc-André Gadoury, responsible for cycling issues in the Coderre administration, said the city will put forth proposals that balance the concerns of CP and the travel needs of Montrealers.

“The approach of the city is in a perspective of harmonious coexistence between rail operations, which contribute to the economic vitality of the city, and the active travel needs of Montrealers,” Gadoury said.

“We are here to meet the mobility needs of Montreal, and to do that we have to reach isolated areas cut off by the CP tracks.”

The six proposed level crossings would be located at: Cartier/Dandurand streets Henri-Julien Ave./des Carrières St. St-Dominic/Bernard streets De l’Épée Ave./future Outremont campus

Parc station/Ogilvy and de Castelnau