27 January 2006
Train Whistle Bylaw
Leduc - A new bylaw dealing with train whistles is chugging into Leduc, 31 Mar 2006.
Residents living along the train tracks in Leduc who were tired of hearing whistles at night will be able to sleep in peace in a few
months. The train whistle bylaw will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. MST, after Leduc city council voted in favour of the bylaw during a
regular council meeting, 23 Jan 2006.
The city had first considered adopting the bylaw in 1991, but on the advice of administration abandoned the idea. In the spring of 1997,
council again considered abolishing train whistling at railway crossings. But based on a preliminary review with Canadian Pacific
Railway officials, $30,000 would've been required to upgrade the pedestrian crossing if whistling were to be eliminated. The city was
again advised to not adopt the bylaw.
However, in January 1999 council revisited the matter and administration compiled a report outlining the costs the municipality would
incur if a bylaw were presented. The following month, council met with CPR officials who estimated the cost of $124,000 would be
incurred by the city for adding fencing, barriers, flashing lights, and bells.
In June 1999, council received confirmation from Transport Canada that they were considering the city's application for carrying out
the proposed improvements.
The upgrades were completed in 2002 for $136,000, which 80 percent of the cost was covered by Transport Canada, 12.5 percent by the
city and 7.5 percent by CPR.
Following the completion of the work, city administration was advised the guidelines for cessation of whistling had changed and a
consultant's report was required. The city incurred a cost of $8,570 to have the report completed. The report was received in May 2003
by UMA Engineering Ltd., who recommended additional upgrades costing $280,000 plus GST.
The improvement costs were included in the 2004 budget and after passing the bylaw last week, council anticipates an easy transition to
the bylaw.
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