An unsolicited proposal from Via Rail is putting commuter rail back on the agenda at city hall.
Few details about the private proposal have been made public but Tim Outhit, councillor for Bedford-Wentworth, said the pitch is to operate a rail line on existing tracks between Windsor Junction and south-end Halifax.
On Thursday, Outhit and other councillors on the Transportation Standing Committee will debate whether to allow staff to enter into formal negotiations with Via Rail.
A report released last year suggested commuter rail wasn’t economically feasible in Halifax. The report, from CPCS Transcom, said startup costs would run between $36 million and $62 million and estimated the annual operating cost would be in the order of $8 million.
“Via (Rail) basically has said they can do it for substantially less if we’re interested in discussing,” Outhit said Monday.
Using existing rail lines and trains that Via Rail already owns would help keep costs down, he added.
Outhit has been a longtime proponent of commuter rail. The route would benefit commuters in his district but he said the rail line would also benefit residents in Clayton Park and downtown Halifax. The proposed route would also stop at some universities in the municipality.
Union opposes proposal
The union representing Halifax Transit staff says it is against Via Rail operating public transit within Halifax.
Ken Wilson, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, said the union might support commuter rail if it is “in house.”
Wilson said he’s concerned that a rail line would lead to job losses for bus drivers if it means some routes will be cancelled.
“We’re going into collective bargaining later this fall and that would be the best time to sit down and have a discussion about commuter rail.”
If the transportation committee gives the go-ahead for negotiations with Via Rail, the issue would also need approval from Regional Council before staff could start formal negotiations.
Via Rail confirmed the proposal was sent to the city but the Crown corporation didn’t give more information about the proposal.
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