Lac La Biche is a community divided — by a rail line. And the one thing the community's residents and leaders aren't divided on, is that the rail line is a big concern for safety, traffic and pedestrian convenience. The tracks even have one councillor suggesting a picket of the busy train line that services much of the oil rich northern part of the province.
A recent rail disaster in Lac-MĂ©gantic, Quebec has local politicians questioning the safety of rail lines running through the hamlet of Lac La Biche.
On Friday, July 5, a train carrying 100,000 litres of crude oil from North Dakota was left running and unmanned while parked in Nantes, Que. Somehow the rail cars became dislodged, and the train rolled 13 kilometres downhill towards the town of Lac-MĂ©gantic. Once there, the train derailed, causing a massive spill of oil that set fire to much of the community. Over 28 people are confirmed dead, and another 22 others are missing. A criminal investigation into the cause of the disaster is ongoing.
Aurel Langevin, the Mayor of Lac La Biche County, is concerned a similar event could take place in our community.
"We have to continue working with CN so the safety of our residents isn't compromised with the increasing traffic volumes carrying dangerous goods through our community," he said.
Langevin said the county needs to be fully aware of what CN's emergency plans are and the municipality needs to ensure their disaster plan dovetails with those of the transportation giant. The mayor also added that recent events, such as the fire at the recycling depot and the gas line rupture during construction work on the Beaverhill Road, were wake-up calls for the community about the ever-present potential for disasters to occur.
Lac La Biche councillor John Nowak, who campaigned on the promise of trying to get a road built through the middle of town across the tracks, says residents who aren't aware of what the trains carry don't see this as anything more than a traffic issue. He believes if the public understood that trains often carry dangerous goods, the level of public concern over the location of rail lines will increase more than the inconvenience of having too few rail crossings.
CN Rail owns the rail line and switching yard that goes through the center of the Hamlet of Lac La Biche. Trains using the line travel less than 100 feet from an elementary school and several gas stations along the busy downtown corridor.
For years Nowak, who is Chair of Lac La Biche County's CN Switching Yard Committee, has tried to meet with CN officials repeatedly to express concerns over the dangers of current track location, the need for a new rail crossing to ease traffic flow, and the industrial and chemical loads trains carry.
"The committee has been trying throughout the year to arrange a meeting with a senior decision-maker from CN to discuss the appropriateness of the existing rail line, but they will not meet with us," said Nowak. "CN doesn't seem to care too much about the community."
Also in recent years, local media championed the cause to address the rail concerns, joining forces with the local Portage College and many area businesses. From pedestrian foot traffic to vehicles, emergency vehicle access and fears of derailments, there continue to be numerous community concerns with the current rail line situation.
While a primary concern is the possibility of a derailment, Nowak explained that trains using the switching yard often tie up traffic between the east and west sides of the community along the only two rail crossings within the downtown core. With the Lac La Biche Health Care Centre located in the southern side of the hamlet, and the fire hall on the north side of the tracks, the lack of quick access to emergency services when the train is in town is a serious concern.
"Ultimately, the goal should be to relocate the switching yard outside of Lac La Biche," said Nowak. "For now, the discussion could be at least about the need for constant transportation connectivity between sides of the hamlet."
Nowak's frustration with the situation is obvious. He indicated that a diplomatic approach to problem solving would be ideal, but CN is unwilling to participate in the process.
"There comes a point where we may need to become militant, and begin to protest the situation. Maybe a picket line across the tracks would get their attention," he said.
Lac La Biche-St.Paul-Two Hills MLA Shayne Saskiw shares the concerns of the county council.
"Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those injured in the Quebec disaster," said Saskiw. "Given the level of devastation and the significant loss of life during the event, I believe now is the time to initiate a discussion about rail lines in our community. We need to create an action plan to rectify the on-going situation in Lac La Biche."
Saskiw feels the matter needs greater attention from provincial and federal levels of government.
"Most forms of transportation are provincial jurisdiction, but it doesn't appear like the province has done anything to regulate rail line use for decades," he said. "Rail companies, businesses who use their services, and all levels of government need to come together to discuss what is in the best interests of the community before a disaster like the one that occurred in Quebec happens here."
Saskiw went further to add that an increasing number of oilfield companies are looking at railway transportation as an option, because present pipeline construction cannot keep up with increasing oil production levels. As increased use of rail lines occurs, so does the potential for a catastrophic disaster in communities like Lac La Biche, where a rail line runs through the heart of the municipality.
Warren Chandler, the Senior Manager of CN Public & Governmental Affairs, CN, said in a recent conversation with the POST that the rail company does not have plans to upgrade or improve the rail line currently traveling through Lac La Biche.
