Momentum is growing in the fight against the proposed intermodal terminal, with more residents organizing their efforts to try to stop CN in its tracks.
A group of about 100 citizens turned out for a meeting hosted by Concerned Residents of Milton on the topic Friday night to take a closer look at how the potential $250-million intermodal facility in south Milton would impact the community when it comes to traffic, property values and quality of life.
The 400-acre facility would be located on lands bordered by Tremaine Road to the west, Britannia Road to the north and Lower Base Line to the south and would operate 24/7.
The session at the Milton Sports Centre, organized by Rabiya Azim of MinMaxx Realty, also included a group discussion about what local residents can do to ensure their opposition to CN's plans is heard loud and clear.
Those in attendance concurred that a multi-pronged plan of opposition is needed, with an emphasis on voicing concerns to Lisa Raitt, who's not only Halton's MP, but also the federal minister of transport.
"We need voices raised. Send as many emails as possible seeking answers and a position from Lisa," said local resident and MinMaxx Realty broker Azim Rizvee, referring to the fact Raitt hasn't spoken out for or against the proposal.
Local resident Steve Skyers said he believes Raitt will have a lot of clout in the House of Commons on the topic. "We have to make this an issue at the federal level."
Skyers suggested another key way to get CN's attention would be to call for a review of the Canadian Railway Act, which allows the company to supersede provincial and municipal legislation.
Ward 7 Councillor Rick DiLorenzo was on hand to present details about how the intermodal could impact local roads.
He said CN has indicated anywhere from 600 to 900 trucks would be coming to the site every day. With them coming and going, that would equate to 1,200 to 1,800 truck movements daily, with Britannia Road identified as the main access point.
"That's about one truck per minute, and those aren't small trucks either," he said. "Britannia Road wasn't developed with that type of truck traffic in mind."
DiLorenzo also said there are concerns about how the trucks would increase traffic congestion and negatively impact the condition of local roads.
"And road repairs would not be CN's responsibility; it would be the Town's or Region's," he said.
Rizvee discussed the plans from a real estate perspective. He said while he can’t say for sure if the intermodal would affect local house prices, he showed the audience that the four neighbourhoods located closest to the existing CN intermodal in Brampton have the lowest real estate prices in the city.
"It can't be a coincidence. This is just the writing on the wall," he believes.
He added that he thinks the proposed site is "the worst location that could ever be chosen for this facility," noting he would rather see it built in Hamilton.
Former town councillor Sharon Barkley said she also believes the south Milton location is simply not a good spot for an intermodal.
"We all understand that intermodal sites are important — we need them. But we don't need them right below a residential subdivision, right below an education village, with no direct access to roads," she said.
CN's intermodal plans have a long history in Milton, first coming forward in 2001. At that time the company was met with intense opposition from local residents, with then-Halton MP Gary Carr delivering a 6,000-name petition to Parliament Hill. Another petition is in the works this time around and can be found at www.miltonsaysno.com and www.miltonrail.com.
In 2008 CN decided to call off its plans, but still continued to own 1,000 acres of land in south Milton. The current proposal for a 400-acre intermodal is part of this larger plot of land, which has some residents concerned about the possibility of future expansion.
CN has opened up a project information centre at 61 James Snow Pkwy. for residents to visit and speak with company staff. It’s open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The issue is on the agenda for this Monday night's meeting of Milton council, which will be considering a staff recommendation to hire consultants to review and study the background reports provided by CN. Staff is seeking approval from council for a $300,000 budget to complete the work and also plans to request reimbursement from CN for the expense.
For more information, visit www.milton.ca.
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