Train talk coming back to city hall as Walkerville residents continue horn complaints
When Windsor, Ont.’s Environment, Transportation, and Public Safety Standing Committee meets next Wednesday, they’ll revisit the conversation around train horns keeping Walkerville residents up at night.
Ward 4 Councillor Mark McKenzie flagged the issue at a council meeting in January, asking if there was a way trains could be silenced between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“A lot of people started calling me and I realized that wow, this was a bigger issue than I first thought,” McKenzie said.
He said a report from city staff has determined horns can’t go completely quiet – particularly at crossings where there are no lowering arms or flashing signals.
Protecting those Walkerville crossings would come with an estimated cost of about $3 million.
In 2022, the federal government had been accepting applications for funding under Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Improvement Plan, but Windsor missed the boat on putting in for that.
Still, McKenzie said he’s been trying to find a way to get Ottawa to chip in.
Ward 4 Councillor Mark McKenzie said a committee will discuss if and how to proceed with efforts to silence trains overnight in Walkerville. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor)
“I’ve spoken to MP Irek Kusmierczyk’s office, as well as the transportation minister Omar Alghabra and they’ve said that they’re going to try and see if maybe they can find some more funds,” he said.
CTV News reached out to Essex Terminal Railway for comment but no one was available to speak on the matter Wednesday.
Walkerville Residents Jim and Karen Carr said they know some have been complaining, but after living by the tracks for 38 years, they aren’t as upset.
“The noise don’t bother me at all,” said Jim. “Doesn’t interfere with TV or nothing.”
The couple, however, said they’ve noticed an increase in train traffic, saying they sometimes notice them rolling through the neighbourhood around 1:00 a.m., when they used to only hear them during the day.
“I just ignore it because it’s life,” Karen said.
McKenzie said next Wednesday’s committee meeting will discuss the feasibility of putting up taxpayer money to upgrade the crossings, which would then allow trains to roll through without honking.
He said they’ll also talk about whether or not to keep pushing the federal government for cash.
“I’m discouraged,” McKenzie said. “I am, but at the same time we’re moving forward. I’m not stopping.”
The Environment, Transportation, and Public Safety Standing Committee meets at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money trial of former U.S. president Donald Trump, prepared to testify about a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.