More conversation is needed when it comes to the fate of three potential railway overpasses in the city. The Transportation Committee will forward a report to City Council regarding overpasses on Preston, 11th street and Marquis drive.

Councillor Hilary Gough called safety the top priority factor for the 11th Street West CN crossing. She says that includes the ability of emergency services to access all areas of the community, adding the Montgomery neighbourhood can be completely cut-off by railway traffic. Gough suggests guaranteed access over that intersection would be a game changer for getting emergency services and general access to that community. Councillor Gough says other proposed grade separations, included in previous reports, like an underpass for 22nd Street West would have tremendous benefits, but also huge community planning and access implications, that she says aren’t worth moving ahead on.

Councillor David Kirton says he believes council needs to be concentrating on what can be done with the CP rail-line. Kirton suggests a high level meeting involving the city, mayor, CP president and board of directors needs to be held. He gave a reminder of a meeting that was held between CN top brass and former Mayor Sid Buckwold, that led to CN moving their rail yards from the middle of downtown Saskatoon.

Kirton suggests the city can try to find the money for grade separations on the CN lines, while prioritizing working with CP to move ahead in other ways.

The next meeting of City Council is January 25th.