Dear MP Adam Chambers, Simcoe North; Honourable Jill Dunlop, Simcoe North, Minister of Colleges and Universities; Honourable Minister of Transportation, Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria; Ms Janet Drysdale, Senior Vice-President and Chief Stakeholder Relations Officer, CN Rail; and Mr Martin Guimond, Vice-President, Transportation, Eastern Region, CN Rail,

We, the undersigned families and concerned citizens of the Township of Ramara, County of Simcoe, Ontario, are writing to formally request investigation into repositioning of CN railroad crossings in the Brechin and Gamebridge communities with particular focus on the Brechin Crossing identified by CN Rail as ‘Brechin East’.

Our community has been significantly impacted by the current positioning of the tracks and we believe their relocation is essential for the following reasons:

1. Safety Concerns: The current track location poses serious safety risks which could be mitigated by repositioning. Located in the very heart of Brechin, the Brechin East (Passing Siding/Loop) crossing lies directly to the west of Brechin Public School and Brechin Ball Park. Additionally, and frighteningly, blockage of Simcoe Road at Brechin East prevents emergency vehicles from accessing communities to the west and south putting lives at risk during critical moments. Finally, the Brechin East crossing at Brechin’s centre could lead to a catastrophic derailment event. Please recall, derailment occurred in Brechin at Mile 68.9, Bala Subdivision, Gamebridge Crossing, on May 21, 2003; corresponding 'Railway Investigation Report R03T0157' can be found here:
https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2003/r03t0157/r03t0157.html

2. Traffic Disruptions: The Brechin East crossing causes substantial delays for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. A blocked Brechin East crossing is particularly problematic during peak hours, causing congestion and inconvenience for commuters and emergency services alike. Community members often experience delays from 15 to as much as 45 minutes on some occasions, when trains decouple for passage.

3. Economic Impact: Frequent stoppage of traffic at Brechin East has a detrimental effect on local businesses reducing customer access. Brechin East adversely impacts on the municipality’s Community Improvement Plan ultimately stunting economic growth, reducing job opportunities for community members and weakening cultural and recreational health.

4. Property Values: The proximity and frequent blockage of the Brechin East crossing may adversely affect property values in the area with families expressing deep concern about the depreciation of their homes and possible challenges in selling their properties.

5. Noise Pollution: The noise generated by trains passing through our community at Brechin East at all hours of the day and night has become a significant disturbance affecting the quality of life. Noise pollutants manifest as both the sounding of warning horns and rumble of track noise.

Demographic Data Supports Safety Concerns of Ramara’s Population of predominantly Older Adults

Statistics Canada 2021
Stats Can 2021 captures age data as:
~ The working age population (15 to 64) represented 60.8% of the total population
~ 2,880 persons aged 65 and over were enumerated in Ramara (Township), representing respectively 27.7% of the total population; in comparison, for Canada, the proportion of seniors was 19.0% in 2021. 
Find 2021 StatsCan Ramara: https://bit.ly/StatsCan2021

Orillia and Lake Country Physician Recruitment (O.L.C.P.R.)
A July 2024 presentation to Township of Ramara Council by the O.L.C.P.R.  further confirms:
~ Nearly 50% of Ramara residents are ages 50+ and the aforenoted, 28% of Ramara residents are over the age of 65
Find the O.L.C.P.R. presentation:  https://ramara.civicweb.net/document/94778/

HoodQ Real Estate Reports’ (H.Q.)
In May 2023, H.Q.’s 'Rural Ramara Neighbourhoods states community members in Orillia are:
~ Employed - 52% of people over age 15 are employed
~ Unemployed - 3% are unemployed
~ Not in the Labour Force - 43% are retired, students, homemakers, etc

AreaVibes 
AreaVibes Ramara, based on statistics derived from Statistics Canada and updated for 2021 by Environics Analytics confirms:
~ Population Density (sq kim) at 394 persons while overall density in Ramara is 23 persons
~ Median Age in Brechin is 53.3
Find AreaVibes Ramara: https://www.areavibes.com/ramara-on/brechin/demographics/

We kindly request that a comprehensive study be conducted to explore feasible alternatives for repositioning the railroad track. We believe that with collaborative effort and consideration of the community’s welfare, a suitable solution can be found that balances the needs of the CN Rail with the safety and well-being of Brechin and area families.

The time to act was decades ago when development of Lagoon City occurred and immediacy of a solution continues to heighten.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a prompt and positive response.

With Respect
Andrew Fulford and Ramara's Brechin and Lagoon City Communities, South Ramara Communities and Brechin Area Businesses and Community Organizations