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Rair Spur on Higgins - WHY?  A rant by: IJustWannaSayThis Okay, this is a pretty petty rant, but it irks the hell out of me. On Higgins, heading away from downtown, just before the bend leading to the Louise Bridge, there is a rail line crossing Higgins. I'm not talking about the rail overpass, this rail line is at street level. I don't know who owns it but it should be decommissioned. From what I can see it is a physical impossibility for a train to make use of the line since the construction of a building on the northwest side of the street - it's just too narrow for a train to get by. There are railway crossing signs (no lights or gate) which are maintained because I've seen them knocked over one day and fixed the next. the reason it bothers me so much is because it is still a marked rail crossing buses have to slow down before they cross. Some drivers realize they'll see a herd of yaks cross before they see a train cross, so they don't stop. But most drivers will at least slow down, some almost stop. Given the number of buses that pass there in a given week, the amount of extra fuel wasted to slow down there for no reason just bugs me for some reason. I'd like to know who owns the line and get them to have it removed from service. It's of no use to anyone and it's only wasting fuel and causing minor traffic congestion. << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) tmbrwlf says: 2008-09-07 12:39:16 The line was for the flour mills that were on both sides of the street. The mill on the south side burned down years age and all that is left of the building on the north is the little market. The line I think is owned by the CPR if not the it is Five roses flour who still owns the spur |
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This rail spur is not the only crossing/intersection where traffic is held up unnecessarily. Just make a list of all the places where traffic lights are on too long at intersections where only a small amount of cross traffic occurs. Possibly the worst in the city is the junction of Route 90 and St. Matthews. I, along with typically 10-20 vehicles, am frequently held up for far too long while only a couple of cars come through. McPhillips and Templeton is another in this category plus numerous others. If this city is so concerned about air pollution and energy conservation, it would have installed weight sensors at these spots long ago, but I won't hold my breath waiting.