Editor:
Re: Early-morning train death investigated, May 20.
Another tragedy on BNSF rail line. And once again, the question is, what do we do to prevent more deaths on BNSF property?
The stakeholders – BNSF, White Rock, First Nations and the beach-going public – need to find a happy medium between: 1) erecting a 10-foot electric fence from Roberts Bank to the U.S. border; and 2) keeping it completely unfenced and rely on people to not step in front of trains.
As a frequent user of the beach and the pier, I don’t want any fences. I guarantee I will not get hit by a train.
How far do we have to go in protecting ourselves from ourselves? Fences also prevent paddleboarders and kayakers from accessing the beach.
As a taxpaying citizen, that is not fair.
We need to stop punishing the general public for the actions of a very small percentage of the population who choose to step in front of a train or who do not take necessary precautions to prevent themselves from stepping in front of a train.
Please give us the benefit of the doubt. Stop erecting fences. Give us back proper access to the beach we pay taxes to use.
D. McNamara, White Rock
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Oh, save us from fools…
We were down at West Beach with our granddaughter last week. What a mess they have made of the boat launch. Horrible asphalt coated our shoes, and with my bad ankle I had some trouble getting over the new track slope to get to the benches.
When we sat for a moment on the parking lot side of the track; that awful black fencing really did spoil the view at “My City by the Sea”.
Please, White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, can we get a move towards rail relocation, sooner rather than later?
Susan Potzold, White Rock
