Light rail transit could work in Thunder Bay, said a Bombardier official.
“A simple light rail would be great because it’s fast, it’s ecological. It’s very convenient for people,” said Rene Lalande, vice-president for Bombardier’s Thunder Bay business unit.
While the city’s population density is on the low side right now, Lalande said Bombardier would be happy to work with the community to develop a plan to perhaps install a light rail system one day.
It’s a process that would take five to 10 years of planning.
“You need to look at the ridership first. You need to look at the right of way to make sure you have someplace to put the rails and then you have to look at the vehicle,” Lalande said.
Coun. Aldo Ruberto raised the idea of light rail transit in the city at Monday’s council meeting, suggesting the company might be interested in building a test track to showcase their products, allowing local transit users to benefit. Bombardier officials were at the meeting to detail their celebration plans for their 20th year in Thunder Bay and the 100th anniversary of the former Can-Car plant.
Mayor Keith Hobbs said the idea is one that needs to be explored.
“Light rail cars produced in Thunder Bay perhaps should be utilized in Thunder Bay,” he told Thunder Bay Television.
“Perhaps at the very least, we could have a run along the waterfront as a tourist attraction.”
