CN Rail’s plan to build a logistics yard in Milton is not sitting well with municipalities in Halton Region.
Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr says they’ve launched legal action to confirm their jurisdiction to review the impacts of the proposed 400 acre truck-rail hub to be built on Brittania Road.
The Region of Halton, Town of Milton, City of Burlington, Town of Halton Hills, Town of Oakville, and Conservation Halton are rejecting CN’s view that neither the province nor the municipalities have a “regulatory role” with respect to the project.
Carr stresses they recognize that rail is “a matter of federal jurisdiction”, but he adds that it is “abundantly clear” that the project includes significant non-rail aspects.
He says those non-rail aspects include the potential for 1,600 truck trips per day, creating noise, dust, lighting, safety and environmental concerns on regional roads like Brittania, Tremaine, Bronte and Dundas Street.
Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz adds that the project would also add more than 20 kilometres of new rail track, adjacent to planned and existing residential communities.
Krantz adds that “if it can happen to the Town of Milton and the Region of Halton, it can happen anyplace else in the province of Ontario.”
Carr notes that “the Halton municipalities are committed to protecting resident interests and vision for our communities.”
The project is currently being assessed by a Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Joint Review Panel Process.
In a statement, CN says it continues to engage “local and provincial governments, Aboriginal groups, and community members on the project itself, to discuss solutions to mitigate potential effects of the proposed hub.”
Spokesman Patrick Waldron adds that the proposed project would provide “much-needed infrastructure to facilitate the movement of goods through the region” adding that “one intermodal train can transport the equivalent of 280 long-distance heavy trucks, alleviating congestion on 400-series highways.”
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