Stouffville GO train horns set to be silenced

Council approved $250,000 for the final steps toward whistle cessation at Main Street, Hoover Park and Reeves Way

Yorkregion.com
March 13, 2023
Simon Martin

Early mornings and late nights are relatively quiet in Stouffville. That is until the GO train comes rumbling through blasting its horn as it goes. But the early morning and late night blasts look to be coming to an end after Whitchurch-Stouffville council approved spending $250,000 for the remaining upgrades needed at Main Street, Hoover Park and Reeves Way for whistle cessation.

That's welcome news for Stouffville residents like Steve Noorhoff. He moved to Blake Street more than 20 years ago partly due to its location near the GO station. It was only recent years that the GO train whistles became an issue as late night service increased.

"I am definitely pleased to hear the whistles will stop," he said. "I will be happy that those are gone."

He's not alone. Doug Foley has lived on Albert Street in Stouffville for 32 years. The whistles never really bothered him until recent years when trains started coming later and later. "The one that bothers me is the one at 1:15 a.m. in the morning," he said.

Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban has been fielding complaints from residents in her ward for years about the whistles with a list of more than 50 residents who have contacted her about it. While timelines aren't concrete with the process, Sherban said she expects work to be completed and the horns to be silenced by the first quarter of 2024.

The town currently has two crossings at Bethesda Road/Tenth Line and Millard Street where whistle cessation is in effect. Council has considered implementing whistle cessation at the remaining urban rail crossings, at Hoover Park Drive, Reeves Way Boulevard and Main Street, over the past few years.

The town’s consultant recently completed a detailed design of the upgrades required to complete whistle cessation. The upgrades included: Sidewalk improvements, pedestrian barrier improvements, pavement marking improvements and signage installation

According to a staff report based on several assumptions, including approval from Metrolinx of the detailed design, it is estimated that the construction duration for whistle cessation upgrades at the three remaining urban rail crossings is one year.

The report also touched on the liability transfer from Metrolinx to the town with whistle cessation in place. Implementation of whistle cessation is not likely to increase the insurance premiums for the town, according to the report. However, any claims arising from at-grade crossings would have a negative impact on the town’s future premiums.

Council endorsed the terms of reference for the safety assessment of the Hoover Park, Reeves Way and Main Street crossings in 2019.

To date, queuing improvements, road advance warning sign installations, pavement marking improvements and warning system improvements work have been completed by the town that were needed under Transport Canada's guidelines.

Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said it was time for the matter to move forward. "We already have it on Millard and Bethesda," he said.  

The move has long been unpopular among Stouffville rural councillors. But with the recent electoral review and one fewer rural councillor on council, opposition has dwindled. "I take very seriously maintaining the safety of people. I have absolutely no interest in removing that vital level of protection," Ward 1 Coun. Hugo Kroon said when council discussed the matter previously.

Kroon moved forward a motion last month that the town investigate whistle cessation at its rural at-grade crossings. The motion was defeated.

Stouffville isn't the only municipality in the area to go the whistle cessation route. In 2020, Markham silenced GO train whistles at 13 crossing after years of effort. The total cost of the effort in Markham came out to $6 million. At the time, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti estimated that 1,600 train horns per weekday between Steeles Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive East would be silenced.

King is also in the midst of efforts to silence horns at its three at-grade crossings. Municipalities in the GTA such as Toronto, Milton, Mississauga, Oakville, Pickering and Brampton already have whistle cessation policies.