CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER

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P. J. LARKIN Ni CITY HALL
City Clerk =i 511 Royal Avenue

New Westminster, B.C.
Telephone: 521-3711

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OFFICE OF CITY CLERK
March 24, 1972,

Mr. A. R. Freeman

City Clerk

The Corporation of the City of Port Coquitlam
2274 McAllister Avenue

Port Coquitlam, B. C.

Dear Sir:

Re: Level Crossings

This will acknowledge receipt of your commuinicaticu
dated March 22nd and to advise on numerous occasions the City
of New Westminster has attempted to have more stringent
restrictions imposed on the railways with respect to ‘train
noise and the blocking of crossings for long periods of time.
To date we have been unsuccessful.

Council also investigated the feasibility of a by-law
to prohibit railway companies from obstructing streets. It
would appear Councils cannot be authorized by provincial legis-
dation to interfer with railways. Further, a by-law such as
this would be in conflict with the power given under the 'Federal
Railway Act' to the railway, which allows their engines and
cars to stand on any part of a highway for a period of time up
to five minutes at any one time.

In the City of New Westminster, in cases of an
emergency, such as a fire, generally control is maintained to
allow fire vehicles to get to the fire by contacting the yard
controller,

Yours truly,

P.J. Larkin,
City Clerk