• Stouffville is steaming ahead in its effort to stop the use of GO train whistles at the Hoover Park and Reeves Way rail crossings.
  • Following today’s motion by Councillor Sue Sherban, Town Staff will issue a Request for Tender this fall for infrastructure work required to secure whistle cessation approvals.
  • The mandatory projects aim to increase safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians in the absence of train whistling.
  • Metrolinx has not yet approved the Town’s designs for the two crossings, but final revisions are nearing completion.
  • Stouffville hopes early tendering will expedite the process, with construction starting as early as next spring.
  • According to Sherban, whistle cessation at the two crossings is unlikely before 2026.

 

The Canadian Rail Operating Rules require engineers to blow their whistle when approaching public crossings. “Train whistling is an important way to keep drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians safe,” Transport Canada explains.

Municipalities can move to stop train whistling if it becomes a problem for residents. However, safety measures must be implemented first, including improved sidewalks and pedestrian barriers, warning signage for road users, and pavement markings.

“Metrolinx and Transport Canada take the same position: whistles make crossings safe,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said during a recent whistle cessation community meeting hosted by Councillor Sue Sherban. “They allow whistle cessation now, but the onus is on us to move the required infrastructure work forward,” he added, noting that the projects have already been budgeted.

Following today’s adopted motion from Sherban, Stouffville will look to tender those projects this fall for the Reeves Way and Hoover Park crossings. The Town hopes that starting the process now will allow work to begin as early as next spring.

Sherban has been leading the charge on whistle cessation since 2019. As Stouffville’s Ward 6 Councillor, she represents the communities surrounding both crossings. Train whistles were a major concern during her door-to-door visits throughout the 2022 municipal election, and she has received hundreds of emails from residents regarding the issue.

GO schedule changes have led to additional late-night trains, driving further complaints. Metrolinx also plans to increase rail service as part of their Stouffville Line GO Expansion and electrification work, which would make the annoyance of train whistles even more frequent.

“A lot of residents, new and old, continue to call and email me complaining about these train whistles,” Sherban said during the meeting. “I have to tell them that I can’t do anything more about it beyond pushing to advance these projects.”

Stouffville is awaiting final design approvals from Metrolinx for the upgrades. Each crossing requires unique solutions, and the Town is close to finalizing them after three rounds of designs. Construction can begin once approvals are granted, and Metrolinx will ensure the completed work meets safety standards before supporting whistle cessation.

Council will then need to pass another motion formally requesting whistle cessation and forward it to Transport Canada. Following their review and approval, Metrolinx will be notified and GO engineers will be told to stop using their whistles at the two crossings.

“That’s where we’re at,” a frustrated Sherban concluded. “I don’t see whistle cessation coming any earlier than 2026.”

Train whistles will still be heard in Stouffville afterward, however, as the Main Street Reconstruction project must get underway before a similar process can be undertaken for the Village’s rail crossing.

According to Sherban, residents may have to wait until 2028 before whistles are no longer heard there.