Every time a train rolls through Saskatoon it’s commuter chaos. According to one report from the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) sitting idle results in the loss of 209 hours of productivity every day.
That’s more than 52,000 hours a year or $2.5 million in lost revenue.
Something Scott Karon, a pizza delivery driver based out of Sutherland, knows a thing or two about. Twice a day he gets caught sitting still in a sea of traffic as a train rolls through the area.
“Most of the time, it’s no more than five minutes, but two days ago it was probably more than 20 minutes I was waiting and people start to complain if you’re that late.”
In addition to pizzas, Karon said he’s had to deliver his fair share of discounts to customers because of train delays.
For first responders, delays could mean the difference between life and death.
According to Troy Davies, with Medavie Health Services West, this is exactly why paramedics often dispatch another crew the second they spot a train on the tracks.
“For us it’s all over the city, 22nd Street , Avenue H, Idylwyld Drive, Sutherland that’s kind of the big four for us and it can be depending on the train size because I know the city doesn’t have a say in how long a train actually is so it can be up to 20 minutes.”
On Monday, the City of Saskatoon disclosed how it plans on getting on the right track when it comes to train tie-ups. Phase one of the rail relation versus grade separation conducted by a Calgary firm is now complete.
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“We’re recommending moving forward that no further work be done on the grade separation option,” Jay Magus, the city’s acting transportation director, said.
“We would like to do a little bit more work, spend a little bit more money, and spend a little bit more time in doing a little more engineering work on how we can relocate the railway outside of the city.”
Grade separation would consist of separating the street from rail in nine locations and would cause major disruptions to properties in those areas.
“If we were going to put 22nd Street under the rail line there, there would be significant impacts to the businesses in that area.”
The city said in addition to examining the relocation aspect a little more, “these are just lines on a drawing at this point,” it will approach the railways with a business plan, to avoid this idea, if need be.
“The cost to relocate, these are primarily numbers is $590 million range where the benefits we’d realize would be $400 million,” Magus added.
The costs still outweigh the benefits but Magus explained that you can’t put a price tag on the safety of citizens – like keeping dangerous goods from flowing through the city.
A report outlining the study’s findings and these recommendation will be presented to city council’s special policy committee on transportation on March 12.
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