Nearly two years after city council received complaints about trains whistling near Iron Bridge, the same issue returned recently to council chambers, with city administration admitting it has done nothing to address the issue.
City hall received two complaints during the past two years about trains whistling at crossings, with city administration asking council in October 2018 to consider a “no whistle zone” at the CN Rail near the Iron Bridge access between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., a council report explained.
Council passed a motion at that time that authorized city administration to speak with CN Rail and/or start a procedure to investigate train whistling throughout Moose Jaw.
Fast forward 23 months and the issue of annoying train whistles returned during the Oct. 5 regular meeting, as city administration put forward a recommendation to defer to 2021 budget discussions a $25,000 study that would analyze rail crossings in Moose Jaw. Instead, council voted 6-1 to have administration address the initial complaints and report back.
Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed.
Council discussion
City administration has been cleaning up outstanding issues from this council’s time and one issue that has languished is the train whistle cessation study, explained city manager Jim Puffalt. Property owners did complain about this issue, which is complicated since the community has many crossings.
Rather than take a piecemeal approach to handle this concern, city administration wants to provide a report to the 2021 budget about possibly undertaking a study, he continued. The main point is city hall does not have the in-house expertise to deal with this issue — the previous director in charge did nothing on it — and any changes should be completed through a logical, systematic and long-term plan.
Puffalt added that if this issue is referred to the 2021 budget talks, then city hall can contact both railway companies to discuss this.
“I’d like us to deal with this one (complaint since) it’s been two years and we haven’t done anything on it. If we get more requests, we could hire a consultant,” said Coun. Scott McMann. “Twenty-three months later and nothing has been done … . I guess I’m more disappointed than anything.”
The original 2018 council report featured a document from Transport Canada about train whistling at grade-level crossings, said Coun. Dawn Luhning. The document listed eight steps to handle this issue, with step 8 saying, “Municipalities and railways share responsibility for monitoring and maintain the conditions that support the cessation of train whistling at the crossing(s).”
Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways are the experts, so city hall should consult with them, she continued. Meanwhile, trains likely blow their whistles at crossings for safety, so if council eliminates that and an accident happens, then Transport Canada could re-impose that condition.
“I really don’t know if I’m in favour of us dipping our toes into this at this point (by analyzing the crossings) … ,” Luhning added. “I’d rather see a conversation with the railways than setting aside $25,000.”
Coun. Heather Eby was disappointed that this issue had returned and that council would vote on the same motion as in 2018.
“I will support this because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s not good process or anything,” she added while shaking her head.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 19.
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