Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: June
1, 2010
SUBJECT: Train
Anti-Whistling at Rail Crossings/Uxbridge Subdivision Rail Status Update
PREPARED BY: Alan
Brown, Director of Engineering
RECOMMENDATION:
1.
THAT the
report dated June 1, 2010, entitled “Train Anti-Whistling at Rail
Crossings/Uxbridge Subdivision Rail Status Update” be received;
2.
AND THAT
staff report back to Council in Fall 2010 to provide a
status update on the cost of works to be completed, status of the insurance and
indemnification agreements, Agency approvals, Region of York funding agreement
and project schedules.
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an
update on the status of train anti-whistling at rail crossings on the Uxbridge Subdivision
rail line in Markham.
Uxbridge Line - Description
The Uxbridge Line runs generally in a north-east direction
and is owned by GO Transit and operated by CN on their behalf. The most
southerly rail crossing is located on Steeles
Avenue and the most northerly rail crossing is
located on 19th Avenue.
In total, there are 16 level rail crossings of which seven are under the
jurisdiction of York Region, one is under the jurisdiction of the City of Toronto and the remaining
eight crossings are under Markham’s
jurisdiction. Most of the rail crossings are fitted with safety features to
properly provide advanced warning and restrict road users from entering the
rail crossing while in operation. Some of the key safety features include
bells, gates, and flashing lights. Other safety features includes traffic
signs, pavement markings and fences.
In October 2008 the Town received the completed Whistle
Cessation Study from Aecom outlining the existing safety deficiencies and the
mitigation measures recommended at the level rail crossings. The principle findings of this report were
presented to the Development Services Committee on March 3, 2009 and can
generally be summarized as follows:
- General mitigation measures required:
i. signs and
pavement installations / relocations
ii. sightlines to
be corrected
- Specific mitigation measures required:
i. Eureka
Street – Sightline Issues (Driveway/Garage Obstruction)
ii. Bur Oak
Avenue –Re-grade existing approaches ( 2% grade maximum)
Engineering Issues
As part of the status update report to Development
Services Committee on March 3,
2009, staff were requested to proceed with
the next steps identified within the March update report and to provide Council
with a status update. The following is
a brief list of the activities undertaken since the Spring
of 2009.
·
In April 2009, staff met with representatives of GO
Transit and Region of York to review the next steps of the anti-whistling
study.
·
Following the April 2009 meeting, and through
consultation with GO Transit and Transport Canada, it was confirmed that a
Pedestrian Study would also be required for each of the crossing locations
required.
·
In May/June 2009, staff prepared a Terms of Reference
and retained a consultant to complete the Pedestrian Study.
·
In June 2009, staff provided notification to the
required relevant organizations as required under the Railway Safety Act of
Markham’s intent to pass a resolution forbidding the use of train whistles
along the Uxbridge Train Line.
·
In July 2009, staff met with the homeowners of 16 Euclid Street to
discuss the options for the possible relocation of the homeowner’s driveway and
garage which front on to Eureka
Street immediately south of the rail line.
·
In July/August 2009 the field work required for the
Pedestrian Study was completed.
·
In late September 2009, the completed Pedestrian
Study report was provided to the Town.
·
In the Fall of 2009, copies
of the completed Whistle Cessation Study and Pedestrian Study were provided to
the required stakeholders (CN, GO Transit, and the Region).
·
The Town has retained Aecom
to identify and develop the specific upgrades required at each crossing and to assist
the Town with "negotiations" with major rail stakeholders, including GO
Transit, Transport Canada,
and Canadian National Railway.
Specific Mitigation Issues
Eureka Street
Following the
meeting with the home owner of 16 Euclid Street and based on the findings of
the two completed studies (Whistle Cessation and Pedestrian Study), the
following was identified:
·
The homeowner is prepared to review and explore
options with the Town to address the safety concern identified within the
Whistle Cessation Study, including the possible relocation of their driveway
and garage currently fronting onto Eureka Street.
·
Aecom, the Town’s consultant, estimates the cost to
relocate/reconstruct the driveway and garage to be in the order of
$50,000-60,000.
·
The need to address the driveway and garage on Eureka
Street was first identified in the Whistle Cessation Study. Upon further work completed by Aecom for the Pedestrian
Study Aecom has provided a figure (See Attachment “A”) that illustrates the existing
and required sightlines in this area.
The figure notes that the sightlines in this area are “at the minimum
level” based on Transport Canada’s
minimum sight line requirements for this type of crossing.
Pending the
outcome of the Stakeholders Meeting
planned for Spring 2010 (See “Schedule” below), the Town will hold further
discussions with both the homeowners of 16 Euclid Street and Aecom so that
staff can report back to Council on a recommendation to deal with the driveway
and garage adjacent to the rail line.
Bur Oak
Avenue
Staff have discussed the need to re-grade a portion of the
approach to the rail crossing at Bur
Oak Avenue with GO Transit and the Region since
the current grade exceeds the maximum allowable by Transport Canada Guidelines
(i.e. 2%). This issue will also be
reviewed and addressed at the planned Stakeholders Meeting.
Schedule
The Town has
completed the Whistle Cessation Study and the Pedestrian Study required by the stakeholders. The Town has also met with some of the key
stakeholders such as GO Transit and the Region of York to review the crossing
options available at each of the crossings and has provided notification to the
CN Labour Unions. The following activities,
including reports to Council for approved, are planned for 2010 (subject to
agency approvals and report back to Council in the Fall
of 2010):
·
Meet with key stakeholder group (Transport Canada, CN, GO
Transit, and the Region) to review the findings from the completed reports and
to agree on the items to be mitigated at each of the crossings. An “Upgrade List”, summarizing all of the
works to be completed, will be prepared from the stakeholders meeting and used
by the Town to design and implement the upgrades required. The Town is trying to schedule this meeting
for June 2010.
·
Prepare and issue formal public notification (Late June 2010).
·
Following the stakeholder meeting, and upon
development of the Upgrade List, the Town will then work with CN and GO Transit
to complete the insurance and indemnification if any of the Town’s and Region’s
crossings. The upgrade list will also
confirm the extent of the Bur Oak re-grading requirements as well as detail the
works required on Eureka Street (Summer
2010).
·
Proceed with crossing improvements (Late 2010/Spring
2011) subject to council and funding approval.
·
Transport Canada railway safety inspection of
crossings (Summer/Fall 2011).
·
Implementation of anti-whistling by-law and whistling
cessation (Late Fall 2011).
For a
complete updated schedule see Attachment “B”.
FINANCIAL
TEMPLATE
The amount of $446,180 has been budgeted for the train
whistle cessation project in accounts 640-101-5699-6501 ($128,280) and
640-101-5699-9288 ($317,900) for capital works associated with train whistle
cessation. Staff will update the cost estimates in the September 2010 report
based on Transport Canada requirements.
The Finance Department have reviewed and as presented at
the June 10, 2008 Development Services Committee meeting, from a Risk
Management perspective Finance staff and the
Town’s insurer do not support anti-whistling. According to the Railway Association of
Canada, train whistles are vital safety features that protect motorists and
pedestrians from collisions at public roads and pedestrian rail crossings.
Finance staff, our insurer and the Railway Association of Canada believe that
train whistles save lives.
RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________ ________________________
Alan Brown, C.E.T. Jim
Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director, Engineering Commissioner,
Development Services
Attachment “A” – Eureka
Street Sightlines
Attachment “B” – Updated Project Schedule