Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 4, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife city councillor is suggesting city administrators should plan ahead to the day when Yellowknife is ready for a light rail transit system.

"It's something to think about for a young city like ours," said McCann.

"Maybe not for our generation but the next."

Coun. Dave McCann made the remarks during a committee meeting Monday, where council discussed the city's Smart Growth Redevelopment Plan.

The document is a blueprint for future planning and development in the city.

When contacted after the meeting, McCann said he wasn't thinking about the immediate future but he said city planners would be wise to establish transit corridors in undeveloped parts of the city now to ensure there is room for a rail system later which commuters could take into the city.

"One of the problems for bigger cities when they realize it's a jammed up mess, they try to squeeze some rail in," said McCann.

"Or in the super dense places, they go underground like Toronto or Montreal.

"But if we show some forward thinking in our planning, we could lay out some strips of land, and 30-40 years from now our city fathers could fit those in very nicely."

Light rail is a kind of above-ground tram system that generally uses electric-powered rail cars. Calgary's light rail system is a prime example.

McCann also wanted to see some wording in the Smart Growth Plan to address residents' health needs.

The plan points to future walking and biking trails but doesn't contain enough language promoting a healthier lifestyle, he said.

McCann said obesity, cardiac disease, and diabetes are growing problems and the city should do its part.

"Exercise is the key," said McCann.

"I'm not talking about running a marathon or being a jock. I'm talking about walking.

No councillor at Monday's committee meeting addressed McCann's comments on rail transit.

Most of the discussion centered on residents' worries over infill development. The issue came to a head in 2005 when the Residential Growth Study was unveiled, which called for the development of a number of green spaces tucked among various neighbourhoods in the city.

That study was never adopted by council.

When contacted about McCann's rail scheme later that afternoon, Coun. Lydia Bardak said the city would have to do some research to find out what was the smallest city in Canada with a rail transit system.

"But I would think we would fall short of the smallest city in Canada with a rapid transit system," said Bardak.

Cost would be the most prohibitive factor.

Ottawa city council awarded a contract in February to construct a 30-kilometre light rail line between downtown and the city's bedroom community of Barrhaven. The price tag is $780 million.

"I don't think that's going to be in our near future," said Bardak.

"But you know what? Maybe in 100 years there will be a rail system in Yellowknife."