Commuter rail open house held in Bedford
CPCS Canada revealing results of study into Fall River-Bedford-Halifax line
Halifax residents can take a look at what rail commuting options the city is considering creating at an open house tonight.
CPCS Canada, a company hired by the city to investigate the cost of a commuter rail line in Halifax, will be revealing what they’ve found so far from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Sunnyside Mall in Bedford.
A commuter rail line is something Fall River-area councillor Barry Dalrymple says he’s been hearing about since he first ran for council in 2008.
“I have heard in my district over and over over again: Why, with all the traffic issues and coming traffic issues in the HRM and especially out this way, why are we not using commuter rail like it used to be 25 years ago, 35 years ago, 40 years ago? And with a set of train tracks right there,” said Dalrymple.
Time for action
Bedford councillor Tim Outhit says he’s heard strong support for rail, but he also heard a lot of people say it’s time to make a decision about what to do about commuting in the city.
“If it is viable, let’s get on with it even though it will be a gradual implementation,” he said. “Or if it isn’t then let’s look again at ferries or expanding bus services, widening roads, etc. But let’s make the decision and then get on with it and not just talk about it for another 20 years.”
A commuter rail line connecting Bedford and Fall River with the peninsula would be a good start, says Sean Gillis, chairman of the public transportation advocacy group It’s More Than Buses. But he thinks it’s just part of the picture.
“People are travelling from so many different locations and the rail cut can do useful things, but it can’t get everyone everywhere. So the more good transit you have built around the system the more useful the whole thing would be.”
It’s the only open house scheduled for commuter rail discussions,which is something both Outhit and Dalrymple expressed concerns about.
It’s not a Bedford-only project, said Outhit.
“It also benefits the peninsula by getting cars off the road,” he said.
There will also be a way to view the materials and submit feedback on the feasibility study online after the study is presented.