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City shaves cost of Frank St. light project

Terrace will now pay a maximum 25 per cent of the $375,000 project

THE city will pay less than it first thought for new traffic lights at the Frank St. CN level rail crossing because the province has taken on more of the cost.

Although it originally appeared that the province and the city would split the estimated $375,000 for the new lights, council was told at its meeting last night that provincial transportation ministry will now pay 75 per cent, meaning the city would then pay 25 per cent.

According to a presentation by city staff at last night's regular council meeting, the amounts that the city and the province will each pay will most likely come down from those numbers because the provincial government has applied for money with CN Rail and the federal ministry of transportation.

A grant from the federal government could pay up to 50 per cent of the cost, and both the city and the province are exploring other avenues as well, such as financing through ICBC.

According to chief administrative officer Heather Avison, the city will cancel plans for a new storage building at the city sewage treatment plant, freeing up $60,000 from the 2013 capital budget for the lights project.

Councillor Brian Downie asked where city administrators will find the rest of the money.

Finance director Ron Bowles told council that, “We may still have to find another $20,000, but It will be 2014, and 2014 is another year and another budget.”

Avison said that construction might begin before winter, and that the new crossing will be in place next spring.

Until then a sign has been posted banning longer vehicles from crossing the tracks northbound on Frank St. to Hwy16.

The intersection was closed completely in June under orders by Transport Canada after two reports were received of approaching trains encountering long vehicles on the tracks.

There isn't enough room between the rail tracks and Hwy16, meaning that northbound long vehicles block the tracks while waiting until it is safe to turn onto Hwy16.

The intersection was reopened after the city and the provincial highways ministry worked out a deal to install highway lights that would work in conjunction with CN's own lights and gates at the crossing.