Maple Ridge’s goal of having a quieter city is inching forward with the planned installation of 1.8-metre high security fences along the railway tracks by the city’s two West Coast Express stations.
At the Port Haney station, the fence will run from the Port Haney Wharf crossing, about 165 metres west to just past the station building.
Its final design, however, remains to be determined because CP Railway gets the final approval of the fence design, said city property manager Darrell Denton.
The final design for the fence for the Maple Meadows station, however, needs more work.
The fences are part of the steps the city is taking to upgrade eight crossings to meet Transport Canada standards for the whistle cessation program.
That program allows the city to upgrade crossings so that train whistles or horns don’t have to be used.
The key is ensuring that all level crossings have lights, bells and control arms in place.
An engineering study had identified minor improvements at the rail crossings in Maple Ridge, at an approximate cost of $30,000.
“The city is following the recommendations of its engineering consultants as to the fencing needs and safety criteria for each of its crossing locations,” said Denton.
Work should be complete within a few months and is one of the last steps needed in order for the city to request that whistles no longer be blown at crossings in the city.
The fencing will serve as a safety measure to keep people from crossing the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks from both Fraser River side to the south and from the northern side.
Denton said Maple Ridge is currently at Step 5 of the eight aimed at getting the whistles stopped.
Once all the crossings have been improved and meet standards, the city can pass a resolution that train whistles not be used at certain crossings.
The railway company then will stop them.
