Photo courtesy Google Maps
St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston is speaking out about long-standing concerns over the rough railway crossing on First Avenue — an issue that’s sparked frustration among residents.
Preston released a statement on Wednesday and myFM spoke with him Thursday about what he called blatant misinformation from CN.
In the statement, Preston acknowledged the complaints, clarified the shared responsibilities between the City and CN Rail, and assured the community that the City is pushing for a resolution.
Part of his frustration in dealing with CN, stressed Preston, is the classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is up to.
According to Preston, the release of his statement was the impetus needed to begin a dialogue with CN and there is hope the roadwork might begin as early as next week.
While there is no schedule as of yet, Preston estimates the work could likely be completed in two days.
The Mayor’s full statement is below.
To the residents of St. Thomas,
As your Mayor, I want to take a moment to speak directly with you about something that’s been frustrating many in our community for far too long -the condition of the railway crossing on First Ave.
I’ve heard from residents, I’ve seen the complaints, and I’ve driven over it myself. I know it’s an issue, and I want you to know the City is not ignoring it. Let’s clear the tracks on this one: maintaining the rail crossing is a shared responsibility. CN Rail is responsible for everything within the rail line itself, while the City maintains the roadway surrounding the tracks. In order to complete the necessary repairs, both parties need to work together, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do.
Unfortunately, a resident recently reached out to CN Rail and was incorrectly told that the City is responsible for this repair. That’s simply not true, and I understand how frustrating it is to get mixed messages.
Here’s what you should know:
Back in 2023, we tendered and awarded a paving contract to address the crossing. We were ready to go. However, CN Rail has not yet provided the flagging support required to ensure that the work can be done safely on active rail infrastructure. Without that, we can’t legally or safely move forward. Our staff have been persistent and proactive – reaching out to CN Rail regularly, coordinating logistics, and pushing to get this done. But progress has been slow, and that’s frustrating for all of us.
We know this has been an ongoing concern for years, and believe me, it’s not for lack of trying on the City’s part. We’re doing everything we can, and we’ll continue to push until we can deliver the fix residents deserve. St. Thomas is proud to be #TheRailwayCity. Our history is rooted in rail, and our relationship with CN Rail is a critical one. We value that relationship, and we believe in working together.
When we have something concrete to share – a confirmed date or timeline– the City will keep you informed. Until then, please know that we hear you, we’re working on it, and we won’t stop pushing for a solution.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
