The shriek of train whistles in Lacombe won’t be stopping anytime soon despite the efforts of some local residents.
Lacombe’s Stewart Shields is lobbying to have CPR kill its engine warnings whistles at the Wolf Creek Drive crossing on the northeast side of town.
Shields, who lives about three blocks west of the intersection, said the whistles are not only an unnecessary nuisance, they are a health issue, interrupting sleep and causing stress.
He went to council last week looking for support to get CPR to stop whistling ahead of the crossing.
It’s not the first time the issue has come up. Last summer, a 20-name petition supporting an end to train whistles in the city went to council, but nothing came of it.
Council was told at the time that to apply for train whistle cessation, the city would be responsible for a safety assessment, apply for additional liability coverage and pay for improvements, such as additional fencing.
Shields argues $2 million in improvements to the Hwy 2A rail crossings through town that have improved safety allow for whistle cessation.
“We have already paid the price to have cessation, to have a health effect removed from Lacombe,” he said.
No other industry could get away with that kind of racket so close to homes, he said.
Mayor Steve Christie said council reviewed the issue last July and decided then not to put any money into whistle cessation studies.
Council may revisit the issue again, but there are no immediate plans to do anything.
The $2 million to improve the crossings and nearby roadways had made the crossings much safer, he said. That work was mostly funded — 84 per cent — by the province.
“Right now, we’re more concerned about the safety of all motorists in that area. So we will continue the status quo and if it’s brought up again in 2016 we’ll have another look at it,” Christie said.
Silencing the whistles would have to be a joint effort between the city, the rail company and the federal Transportation Department, he said.
Rail companies are reluctant to enter into cessation agreements with communities because whistles are seen as an important safety measure.
Blackfalds and Ponoka have tried, and failed, to have whistles silenced.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com