Traffic Delays at Rail Crossings Cost Region $2.5M Yearly in Lost Productivity: SREDA Analysis

A Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) analysis reveals the local economy loses $2.5 million of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per year as a result of traffic delays at major rail crossings in the city.

“This study provides us with a measurement of what we’ve suspected for some time,” says Angela Gardiner, Director of Transportation.  “These results will further enhance the Railway Working Group’s move toward a solution for minimizing delays at rail crossings on high traffic streets.”

The analysis is highlighted in a report for the November 14 meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation.

“The lost GDP is due to lost labour productivity to businesses in the Saskatoon Region as a result of traffic delays at nine rail crossings in the City,” says Alex Fallon, President & CEO, SREDA.

In March, the Committee directed the Administration to expand the ongoing work of the Railway Working Group to include exploring relocation of railways.  This additional mandate will be considered in the 2017 budget discussions beginning at month’s end.

The Administration report details modifications have already been made to Canadian National Railway’s (CN) operations in the south west portion of the city to reduce traffic delays in the area.

The Administration report further outlines the two phases of the upcoming feasibility study. The first phase will evaluate the costs and benefits of relocating the Canadian Pacific (CP) mainline and possibly the rail yard compared to constructing grade separations at priority rail crossing locations.

“The impact of CP on the city’s road network is significantly greater than that of CN due to the number of at-grade crossings along the mainline,” Gardiner says.  “If the relocation of CP is determined to be financially feasible, the study may further explore the relocation of CN.”

Two options will be considered as part of the feasibility study: either construct grade separations at priority rail crossing locations; or relocate CP rail infrastructure, including CP Sutherland Yards.

Once an option is chosen by City Council, the second phase of the study would be a more detailed analysis to develop a business case to approach other orders of government for construction funding.

The first phase of the feasibility study will be completed in 2017 and presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation in early 2018.​​