2009

25 November 2009 Parry Sound Council Works to Stop the Whistling Parry Sound Ontario - The streets of Parry Sound could get quieter in the future, depending on the cost.   On 17 Nov 2009 town council directed staff to find out the costs of public crossing assessments and equipment upgrades necessary to meet Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR) so it can finally silence the whistles that blow at all of the town's crossings.   In September, Gibson Street resident John Scarr spoke to council about enacting a similar bylaw to Belleville's to stop trains from blowing the whistle at 13 of its crossings.   Under the direction of council, Parry Sound fire chief Laurence Green gathered information and requirements to have an exemption from the CRORs rule 14L, blowing whistles at crossings.   In order to be exempted, Green told council, the following would have to occur:  contact the railway company, notify the general public of council's intentions, pass a resolution, conduct a detailed safety assessment of the crossings, varying between $2,500 to $20,000 per crossing, if the crossings meet the requirements and all parties agree to stop using the whistle, council must pass a bylaw.   Financial assistance of up to 80 percent of the cost of a crossing improvement may be available from Transport Canada, however, Green said, costs directly related to eliminating whistling may not be eligible under this program. "In 2005 Mr. Steven Gilchrist, director of finance, contacted our insurance company regarding the discontinuance of train whistles and how it would affect our insurance premium," said Green in his report to council. "They stated that they could not put a price on it, but the cost would be minimal to no change in premium."   Councillor Bonnie Keith moved for staff to find exact costs for public crossing assessments and equipment upgrades for the 2010 budget.   Council unanimously agreed. "Cost remains the potential roadblock to this issue as it was in 2005 with five crossings to deal with," said town CAO Rob Mens. "Fifty thousand dollars is suggested to undertake the assessment in the 2010 budget. This would have an impact of nearly a one percent increase in the levy alone, and that is before any signalization work was done. The potential may be for phasing in whistle-free crossings over a period of years."   Stephannie Johnson.

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