Meeting planned to discuss Hazel Avenue rail crossing options

The saga between Canadian National Railways (CN) and the municipality regarding the Hazel Avenue pedestrian underpass is not over. This David versus Goliath epic, in which CN has said ‘no’ to direct financial assistance for the project, is reaching an encouraging moment.  

Jim Vena, senior vice president for the Western Region of CN, will be in Jasper over the holidays to meet with Mayor Richard Ireland and Ken Quackenbush, director of Environmental Services for the municipality. “Well I can’t say that we’re going to get any assurances out of CN, but what we’re hoping to achieve are a couple of possibilities,” said Ireland.

Vena’s trip to Jasper means the mayor has not “let go entirely that they’ll contribute some real money.” Quackenbush was equally optimistic, but would not speculate on what Vena has to offer.

There are other ways that CN can contribute to the project without direct financial contribution, said Ireland. In order to go under the railway tracks, CN must still provide consent and there are a number of ways to approach digging the tunnel, he said.  

“My understanding is that CN still holds a number of cards there, so depending on what method they permit, it would change the municipality’s costs significantly,” said Mayor Ireland.  “So although we may not have success getting them to contribute with direct financial assistance, we might get them to agree to allow us to use means that will save us money, so it works out somewhat the same in any event,” he said.

Though the Fitzhugh did contact Vena for a comment, he dispatched Kevin Franchuk, CN’s media relations person for Alberta, who said “there have been some discussions between Mr. Vena and the town and that is part of the ongoing dialogue.” When pressed for clarification, Franchuk said he’s “not in a position to go into further details on the ongoing dialogue. There have been some discussions between Mr. Vena and the town.”

Ireland was similarly coy about what powers of persuasion he will employ in his meeting with Vena.  “I will do what I have to do,” he said.