No pot of gold to help mute train whistles, Markham councillor warns

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 19, 2015
By Amanda Persico

Markham city officials sounded a warning this week about the potential cost of a train whistle cessation program and want to make sure other communities and levels of government are committed to spending, too, before the local program leaves the station.

City staff are finalizing a rail crossing safety audit for each of the 17 at-grade crossings along the Stouffville GO Train line, councillors were told this week.

Staff have also broken down each crossing based on which government agency is responsible for new safety measures that would be needed if trains were to stop sounding their whistles, as well as what upgrades are required by Transport Canada.

The city is also working on a funding formula for the crossings, including an option where Markham fronts the costs to be reimbursed by Metrolinx, the regional transit authority.

Train whistles have become an issue in the city, an issue heightened by the looming implementation of all-day, two-way train service on the line that cuts through the heart of Markham.

Petitions have been presented to city hall asking the city to bring in measures for a whistle cessation program already implemented in other communities, while others have questioned the safety of such a move and say those who bought homes near the tracks should learn to live with the noise.

Local councillors have come out in support of the cessation program but before Markham spends a dime, some councillors said this week they want to see what other municipalities along the Stouffville line are doing.

“Let’s not go spending millions only to see those in the south did not spend a penny,” said Councillor Colin Campbell.

Toronto is also looking at its rail crossings and many may have to be retrofitted to meet Transport Canada safety requirements, the city’s engineering director Alan Brown during this week’s development services committee meeting.

“This needs to be a joint effort between GO Train, the province and Markham,” Campbell said. “Everyone needs to step up. This isn’t fair on our taxpayers, who are not a majority who use the rail.”

There is no stash of cash to fund these safety measures from any level of government, Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Jack Heath warned.

“There could be 1,500 other municipalities who want funding for this, too,” he said. “There is no railway company who can fund that. If you think there is a pile of money to fund this, you’re dreaming into the 22nd century.”

Markham council had requested an update by to the end of November on the steps taken by staff to ensure the city can meet all safety demands for an anti-whistling program.

Since then, staff have made strides to get issued resolved with hopes of hosting a public meeting in the new year, Brown said.

“We’ve made good progress,” he said. “There’s still a lot of work to do but we are making progress.”

Staff plan to present an implementation plan to ensure changes get underway prior to all-day GO Train service’s start in 2017.