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Train Whistle Cessation
What is the City doing to reduce Train Whistling?
The City of New Westminster is continuously working alongside Provincial and Federal levels of government to make whistle cessation happen. As railways are federally regulated, the City cannot restrict or regulate train whistles. However, the Federal and Provincial Governments have established processes the City can pursue whereby rail companies are directed to cease blowing whistles at specified locations. The City of New Westminster is currently pursuing these measures and will keep residents and businesses informed as the process unfolds.
Whistle Cessation Process
Step 1: Interest for whistling cessation is expressed.
Step 2: Municipality consults with the railway company.
Step 3: Municipality issues notifications and public notice.
Step 4: Municipality and railway assess the crossing(s) against the prescribed requirements in the Grade Crossings Regulations and Standards.
Step 5: Municipality and railway agree that the crossing(s) meets the prescribed requirements of the Grade Crossings Regulations and Standards.
Step 5A (optional): Municipality and railway request a final decision from Transport Canada.
Step 6: Municipality passes a resolution declaring that it agrees that whistles should not be used in that area, thereby prohibiting train whistling.
Step 7: The railway company notifies Transport Canada and informs the municipality within 30 days that it has arranged to have whistling ceased at the crossing(s).
Step 8: Municipality and railway share the responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the conditions that support the cessation of train whistling at the crossing(s).
When will cessation be obtained at all crossings?
The City of New Westminster is committed to achieving cessation city-wide, but it will take a number of years and assistance from other levels of government in order for this to occur. As part of the process, the City has undertaken safety audits at all crossings; however, each crossing comes with its own set of challenges and safety requirements in order to obtain cessation. As a result, cessation will be obtained as the resources and upgrades to the crossings are undertaken.
Crossing Information and Current status
New Westminster has a total of 22 railway crossings in the city; 12 on the mainland and 10 in Queensborough. The City is currently focusing on 13 public crossings to obtain whistle cessation.
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Achieved preliminary design concept
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 4Comments: SRY has retained a consultant to undertake design works. Currently, they are in the detailed design stage and collaboratively working with the City on the identified changes required to the road alignment. However, this crossing is facing issues due to the road alignment and may require widening.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Achieved preliminary design concept.
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 4Comments: SRY has retained a consultant to undertake design works. Currently, they are in the detailed design stage and collaboratively working with the City on the identified changes required to the road alignment. This crossing faces issues with proximity to the Metro Vancouver main; however, pavement marking and signage upgrades are anticipated to occur in fall 2019.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Achieved preliminary design concept.
Construction status: anticipated for 2019
Whistle cessation process: Step 4Comments: SRY has retained a consultant to undertake design works. Currently, they are in the detailed design stage and collaboratively working with the City on the identified changes required to the road alignment. It has been determined that this crossing will be reviewed as part of the development occurring on Duncan Street.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Achieved preliminary design concept.
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 4Comments: SRY has retained a consultant to undertake design works. Currently, they are in the detailed design stage and collaboratively working with the City on the identified changes required to the road alignment. The City has sent the civil drawings to SRY’s consultant for review of the Ewen Avenue and Furness Street crossing. SRY is currently reviewing these designs. Design review is anticipated for completion by the end of 2019.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: Complete
Whistle cessation process: Step 8Comments: SRY experienced some operational issues with the initial notice that was posted which has delayed the implementation of cessation at the crossing. The City and SRY are currently amending the agreements so that cessation can be implemented at the crossing.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: Complete
Whistle cessation process: Step 8Comments: A gate has been installed at the crossing to support nighttime cessation by Southern Railway. Southern Railway had been in discussions with the federal regulated railways to have them follow suit, but they have not agreed, and will only implement cessation with the closure of the crossing or full signalization. The City will be undertaking discussions with the railways and Transport Canada to discuss the potential of full time cessation.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: SRY
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: Summer/ Fall 2018
Whistle Cessation Process: Step 6Comments: Construction has commenced on the upgrades to the Quayside crossing and it is anticipated to be complete within the next couple of months. The City and SRY are currently reviewing their agreement templates and are negotiating a whistle cessation and crossing agreement for this crossing so that whistle cessation can be attained shortly after construction is complete.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CN
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: Complete
Whistle cessation process: Step 8Comments: Whistle cessation has been achieved at this crossing. The City and railway will continue to monitor and maintain the conditions that support this initiative.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CN
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: Complete
Whistle cessation process: Step 8Comments: Whistle cessation has been achieved at this crossing. The City and railway will continue to monitor and maintain the conditions that support this initiative.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CP
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 4Comments: Metro Vancouver is currently in the process of building a pump station adjacent to this rail crossing. Due to the construction activity in the vicinity of the crossing, improvements identified in the safety audit will have to be coordinated with Metro Vancouver. The City of New Westminster has met with Metro Vancouver to review the construction timeline and is currently in discussion with the railways to develop an execution plan to attain cessation.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CP
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: No
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 2Comments: The Safety audit at this location identified a number of complex safety issues with respect to pedestrian trespass into the rail right of way from the Sapperton Skytrain Station. The City is currently exploring options to provide an elevator from the SkyTrain station.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CP
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: Yes
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 2Comments: The Canadian Pacific Railway have installed gates at this crossing which are operational. However, Transport Canada has expressed concern regarding traffic queuing across the tracks. Due to traffic congestion and access issues along the corridor, cessation will not be possible until these issues can be addressed. Solutions to these issues are being looked at in conjunction with possible major highway improvements as part of the future Brunette Interchange.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018
Primarily operated by: CN
Safety audit complete: Yes
Design complete: No
Construction status: TBD
Whistle cessation process: Step 2Comments: A number of complex safety issues were identified in the safety audit for this crossing as there are multiple tracks which involve shunting operations. Similar to the CP crossing, high traffic volumes cause traffic to que across these tracks. Solutions to these issues are being looked at in conjunction with possible major highway improvements as part of the future Brunette Interchange.
Information last updated: September 20, 2018