A group of Maple Ridge residents living along the CP Rail line are asking council to help them stop train whistles.
“They’re not whistles, they’re blasts,” asserts Marilyn Cowie. “I don’t know when they were ever whistles.”
She has started a petition to have the “blasts” stopped at the crossing to the Port Haney Wharf, and at 225th Street. Her apartment building is across River Road from the wharf, and she said trains generally do about four blasts at each crossing.
This used to happen about 12 times a day with freight trains, but she said such traffic has increased dramatically. She estimates that on Sunday morning from 2-8 a.m., there were 14 trains.
“We’ve never heard anything like that,” she said. “It’s actually bad for your health – you lose sleep.”
All residents of her apartment building, Reflections on the River, signed the petition, and since it has been circulating to other condos in the area.
“There are thousands of people effected,” she said.
They have learned that there is a process for whistle cessation through Transport Canada, which involves cooperation between the railway and the municipality that wants whistles stopped.
Pitt Meadows has already successfully had whistles stopped through that city.
“We would like to see our council go to bat for us,” said Cowie.
Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read is aware of the request, but said there is an important safety consideration.
“It’s a complicated issue for the railway company in terms of safety,” she said. “I understand [the residents’ position], but I also get the updates when people get hit on the tracks. I see both sides of the issue.”
Read will follow up on the issue with city staff.
According to Transport Canada guidelines, whistle cessation can happen. A municipality must consult with the railway company to assess the feasibility of the request, notify the public of the intent, and pass a council resolution to stop whistles.
The procedure promotes the collaboration between municipalities and railway companies in ensuring grade crossings remain safe.
Salem Woodrow of CP said train whistle use is regulated under a strict set of federal regulations, and the railway takes the position that whistles are import for public safety.
“The train whistle is a significant safety appliance that provides the last warning to those using a public grade crossing or if they are near the tracks with an approaching train,” she said.
“By law, all federal railways in Canada and U.S. are required by law to sound the train whistles at all public grade crossings, even though the grade crossing may be equipped with automatic warning devices, such as flashing lights, bells and gates.”
CP Rail has said freight traffic was up in late 2016, but Woodrow said the number of trains rises and falls in relation to economic activity in the country.