Canadian rail, municipality associations agree to proactively mediate disputes (6/3/2002)

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) last week agreed to pursue a "good neighbor" approach to preventing and resolving disputes between railroads and citizens who reside close to railway operations.

The organizations plan to communicate more openly, and identify current options and best practices for mediation or dispute resolution at local levels or formally, if necessary, said RAC President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Rowat in a prepared statement.

Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators, which represents professional municipal managers, agreed to participate in the pact.

FCM represents more than 1,000 municipal governments; RAC, 55 freight and passenger railroads.

"As [rail] systems expand — and undoubtedly they will — the work we're doing to address these proximity issues and the guidelines to be developed jointly on such matters as land use, noise levels, and emissions become even more important," said FCM CEO James Knight.

Source: Progressive Railroading Daily News