The city will ask council to defer or cancel a plan to stop freight trains from whistling as they cross Black Bridge Road after the cost to add stop arms and lights came in well over budget.
In a report to be discussed at the council horseshoe tonight, staff say stopping or deferring the whistle cessation project will allow the city to put its approved budget of $570,000 toward contingencies in a project to improve the crossing instead.
Since the Fergus Subdivision rail line is also being considered for a potential GO passenger rail service, deferring the project might be in the city's best interest, says the staff report.
Train volume at the crossing consists of one freight train per day, a quarter mile in advance of the crossing.
Over the past several years, the city says it has received complaints about the whistle from residents living in the Mill Pond subdivision.
Those concerns prompted an investigation in 2022.
A crossing safety assessment with CN Rail determined that in order to stop its trains from whistling, an active crossing warning system, equipped with lights, bells and automated gates, would be required on Black Bridge.
It comes at an estimated cost of $850,000, about $280,000 more than the city budgeted for the project.
The expense would also be subject to "further cost estimation and refinement" by CN rail in relation to the reconstruction and realignment of the road next year.
The city is realigning Black Bridge Road and constructing a new bridge over the speed river this year.
Part of that project includes a plan to improve sight lines at the at-grade crossing which requires both trains and vehicles to slow down and stop as they approach.
"There are poor sightlines at the crossing because of existing high rock outcrops on either side of the tracks," reads the staff report.
To improve sightlines and safety at the crossing, the city proposes removing the rock outcrop to provide additional visibility of oncoming trains for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Improvements to the crossing surface, signage, and pavement markings are also proposed and will be implemented during Stage 2 construction.
If council decides instead to go ahead with efforts to stop the train whistle, the city would have to secure the extra $280,000 through debenture, the report says.
