'Community safety is the whistle that blows': East Gwillimbury not interested in silencing GO Train

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 13, 2021

While some municipalities in York Region are making a move to silence GO Train whistles as service levels increase, East Gwillimbury council doesn’t seem remotely interesting in silencing theirs at grade rail crossings.

At a council meeting Dec. 7, Mayor Virginia Hackson made it abundantly clear where she stands on the issue.

“It's all about safety and our community safety is the whistle that blows,” she said. “Those whistles are there for a reason and they're keeping our residents safe. I'm not interested in addressing this at all.”

Ward 3 Coun. Scott Crone said the cost of silencing the train whistles is also prohibitive. “This could cost us half a million dollars per crossing. It's going to impact property taxes,” he said.

The staff report delivered to council said there has not been any real substantive changes to legislation with regards to anti-whistling since 2019 when the town last looked at the matter.

Mike Molinari, general manager of community infrastructure and environmental services, said since 2019 there has been a negligible increase in the frequency of trains per day along the route. “Typically what we found is about four trains per day on weekdays."

The staff report cited reduced safety at grade crossings and increased liability as reasons for keeping the whistles.

In 2020, Markham spent $6 million silencing GO train whistles at its 13 rail crossings.

The Town of Newmarket, Town of Aurora, and City of Richmond Hill have considered, but ultimately rejected, a silencing program.

The town can expect more GO trips in the near future. Metrolinx has announced it is planning to bring 15-minute, two-way all-day GO service on the Barrie Line to the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury through the Town of East Gwillimbury. The timing of the extension of the 15-minute service is not known at this time.