Details

WHEREAS rail traffic continues to increase throughout the province of British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS locomotive whistles severely infringe upon citizens’ quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort and convenience:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transport Canada require rail corporations provide a safe environment in which whistle sounding will be discontinued.

BACKGROUND:

The current process required to meet the whistle cessation requirements are often too onerous for a municipality to undertake.

Responses

The UBCM membership considered but did not endorse resolution 2014-B125, a similar resolution from the same sponsor.

In it comments on the 2014 resolution, the UBCM Resolutions Committee noted that the membership considered but did not endorse resolution 2009-B157, which called on rail corporations to provide controlled railway crossings within municipal boundaries, rather than sounding locomotive whistles.

The Committee also observed that under the Rail Safety Act, strict rules dictate when and where whistles are sounded. These rules apply at all crossings and are required for safety reasons.