MPP Arnott calls for safety review of Hwy 7 intersection
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2014
MPP Arnott calls for safety review of Hwy 7 intersection
(Queen’s Park) – The intersection of Highway 7 and Wellington County Rd. 29 is inherently
dangerous and the Minister of Transportation needs to take action to make it safe, says
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
Mr. Arnott rose in the Ontario Legislature on February 27 to call on the Minister, Glen Murray, to
investigate and address the safety concerns with the intersection, which is located in the
Township of Guelph/Eramosa.
“Running very closely parallel to Highway 7, just north of this intersection, is a busy rail line,
which I believe is part of the Goderich-Exeter railway,” Mr. Arnott explained. “The rail line is so
close to the road intersection that a tractor trailer stopping at the signal lights, in some cases,
can have its trailer straddling the rail tracks.”
“If you think about that for just a minute – a tractor trailer stopped at a traffic light, straddling a
rail line – you’d conclude that this intersection is inherently unsafe,” he added.
Mr. Arnott informed the House that just last month a train collided with a tractor trailer stopped at
the lights. Fortunately, the driver of the truck sustained only minor injuries.
“I call upon the Minister of Transportation to take immediate steps to avert another accident,
which I’m afraid to say, is just waiting to happen,” Mr. Arnott concluded. “I urge him to instruct
his staff to do an immediate safety study of the intersection of Highway 7 and Wellington County
Rd. 29, with a view to ensuring that this intersection, so close to the rail line, is made safe for the
travelling public.”
After his statement in the Legislature, Mr. Arnott spoke with the Minister at length to further
explain the issue and push for immediate action.
(Attached: Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, February 27, 2014)
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
Text of Mr. Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature,
February 27, 2014
Mr. Speaker:
Last summer’s train derailment and subsequent explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec was a
previously unimaginable human tragedy, which cost 47 people their lives.
It was also a wakeup call for all of us, that rail safety in Canada cannot be taken for granted.
Knowing we must be more vigilant on rail safety, I am compelled to inform the Minister of
Transportation of a safety issue in Wellington-Halton Hills that he cannot ignore and must
address.
Within the Township of Guelph/Eramosa, there is an intersection of a provincial highway and a
county road, Highway 7 and Wellington County Road 29. Running very closely parallel to
Highway 7, just north of this intersection, is a busy rail line, which I believe is part of the
Goderich-Exeter railway.
The rail line is so close to the road intersection that a tractor trailer stopping at the signal lights,
in some cases, can have its trailer straddling the rail tracks.
If you think about that for just a minute – a tractor trailer stopped at a traffic light, straddling a rail
line – you’d conclude that this intersection is inherently unsafe.
Last month, at this intersection, a freight train actually collided with a transport truck, which was
stopped at the lights. The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Thank God no one
was killed.
I call upon the Minister of Transportation to take immediate steps to avert another accident,
which I’m afraid to say, is just waiting to happen.
I urge him to instruct his staff to do an immediate safety study of the intersection of Highway 7
and Wellington County Rd. 29, with a view to ensuring that this intersection, so close to the rail
line, is made safe for the travelling public.