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
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
Woman who accused Biden of sexually assaulting her in 1993 defects to Russia
A former staffer who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault has defected to Moscow and spoken to Russian state media in a news conference that lasted several hours.
'Get out or be in the fire': Nova Scotians detail the moments when they fled their homes
Wildfires in Nova Scotia have burned thousands of hectares across the province, forcing many to flee their homes. Halifax-area residents tell CTV News what it was like for them when they had to evacuate.
Toronto blogger warns of 'seismic shift' in SEO amid AI advancements
As text-generative artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT change the tide of web surfing, one Toronto blogger warns of a “seismic shift” in search engine optimization.
WATCH
WATCH | Falling weaponry narrowly misses moving car on Kyiv road
A dashcam caught the moment falling debris from a missile nearly hit a moving vehicle on a Kyiv road on Monday.
'This is going to be a prolonged operation': Halifax-area wildfire grows to 837 hectares
Officials say the wildfire burning in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area has grown to 837 hectares.
Personality changes, confusion could be key signs your liver is failing
Imagine being struck with a sudden onset of confusion, struggling to think of words or to recognize your surroundings — and even ending up in the emergency department because of it. No, this isn’t a description of dementia, but of a common complication that can arise from serious liver disease.
Who are the bride and groom in Jordan's royal wedding?
He's heir to the throne in one of the oldest monarchies in the Middle East and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. She's a Saudi architect with an aristocratic pedigree of her own.
Quebec firm to pay $10M to avoid charges over bribes promised to Philippine officials
A Quebec forensics company promised millions of dollars in bribes to officials in the Philippines, including a cabinet minister and his brother, as it sought lucrative police contracts, according to a statement of facts attached to a deal the firm struck to avoid prosecution in Canada.
Kitchener
-
'Thank God my kids were not outside': Car crashes through 3 Kitchener backyards
A number of fences will need to be replaced, but people who live on Ralgreen Crescent in Kitchener feel lucky the damage wasn’t much worse after a car careened off the road and smashed through their backyards on Tuesday afternoon.
-
Crash takes out part of pedestrian overpass in downtown Kitchener
Police have closed a section of Charles Street in downtown Kitchener where it appears a garbage truck took out part of an overhead pedestrian bridge.
-
84 pairs of sneakers, four vehicles seized in Guelph police drug investigation
Three men are facing charges following a drug investigation in Guelph.
London
-
Overhaul of school boundaries recommended by TVDSB
The final report of Thames Valley District School Board’s largest attendance review in decades has been given final recommendations by the board.
-
'Killing or injuring animal' charge for St. Thomas man already facing attempted murder charge
A St. Thomas, Ont. man charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a 24-year-old woman, is now facing an additional charge.
-
Man suffers serious injury in possible moving mishap
Officers were called to Maitland and Grey streets at 8 a.m. where witnesses said a male was found suffering from a suspected foot injury.
Barrie
-
3 girls now charged in assault, kidnapping investigation in Huntsville
Huntsville OPP has charged a third girl in connection to an alleged assault captured on video at a local high school and shared on social media earlier this month.
-
38th anniversary of the deadly and destructive tornado that struck Barrie, Ont.
May 31, 1985, started like any other day in Barrie, but all that changed later that afternoon when the sky changed colour, suddenly and without warning, plunging the city into chaos.
-
Police search for suspects after Barrie sign damaged
Barrie police are trying to catch vandals who caused damage to the Barrie sign on Simcoe Street.
Northern Ontario
-
Main artery in North Bay closed after early morning trailer fire
A large transport truck carrying 4,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals caught on fire in North Bay around 2:30 a.m., fire officials say.
-
These are the worst roads in northern Ontario 2023
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is out with its annual 'Worst Roads' lists and the top five in northern Ontario are located in Timmins, Greater Sudbury and North Bay.
-
'We are stuck here': Saskatoon woman says she can't sell home due to nearby shelter
A Saskatoon homeowner says her proximity to a homeless shelter is the reason her house wouldn’t sell.
Ottawa
-
Police to provide update on investigation into double homicide in Pembroke, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police will provide an update this afternoon on the investigation into the murders of two teenagers in in Pembroke, Ont.
-
Here is the lineup for Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa
Canadian Heritage unveiled the programming for July 1 celebrations, inviting Canadians to come to the capital region to "join the biggest party in the country!"
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | The hottest days of 2023 (so far) in the forecast for Ottawa
Environment Canada's forecast calls for sunny and hot weather to continue for the final day of May and the start of June.
Toronto
-
4 women, 1 man charged in Ontario human trafficking case involving 13 victims
Four women and one man have been charged in connection with year-long human trafficking investigation in Mississauga that police say involved 13 victims who 'came to Canada for a better life' but were instead coerced into working in the sex trade.
-
Ontario's summer forecast revealed. It might not be what you were hoping for
Ontarians could be looking at a 'love it or leave it' kind of summer this year with below normal temperatures forecast, The Weather Network says.
-
'Mortifying': Toronto woman says restaurant shamed her for ordering too much food
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Montreal
-
Stay hydrated! Record-breaking heat in Montreal this week
High heat is pushing into parts of Quebec this week, and many communities could see record-breaking temperatures this week. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued special weather statements, advising people of the above-average temperatures.
-
Quebec man, 87, charged in 1980s child sex assaults
An 87-year-old Quebec man has been charged with multiple sexual assaults, 30 years later. Maurice Julien is accused of sexually abusing boys between 1986 and 1989 while involved in a "youth movement" in L'Islet, a riverside town about 100 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
-
'Worst pain I've felt:' New Shriners' approach to treating children's sports injuries aims to get young athletes moving again
A new team working out of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada (SHC-Canada) wants to get young people like Horn, who injured themselves, back on their feet and running as fast and efficiently as possible.
Atlantic
-
'This is going to be a prolonged operation': Halifax-area wildfire grows to 837 hectares
Officials say the wildfire burning in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area has grown to 837 hectares.
-
'For God's sake, stop burning': N.S. premier bans all activity in forests, urges residents to abide by burn ban
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has banned all activity in forests as of Tuesday, and says the wildfire damage is “extensive” and “heartbreaking.”
-
Shelburne County wildfire still out of control as schools close, thousands evacuate
An out-of-control wildfire in Nova Scotia’s Shelburne County has forced officials to close all public schools in the area.
Winnipeg
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | 16 children, one adult sent to hospital after incident at Fort Gibraltar
CTV News has confirmed 16 children and one adult have been transported to hospital following an incident at Fort Gibraltar Wednesday morning.
-
Storm brought funnel cloud, dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba
A thunderstorm on Tuesday brought heavy rain, a funnel cloud and dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba on Tuesday.
-
Priest charged in alleged sexual assault of 8-year-old girl on Manitoba First Nation
Manitoba RCMP have arrested a priest from a First Nation community who is accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl, and believe there may be more victims.
Calgary
-
2 homes damaged in early morning fire in southeast Calgary
Officials say an early morning fire in southeast Calgary is under control, but two homes were damaged.
-
Kevin J. Johnston sentenced in Delburne, Alta., COVID protest
Former Calgary mayoral candidate Kevin J. Johnston was back in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on Friday, May 26 to answer to charges stemming from a protest in Delburne in April 2021.
-
Vehicle crashes through window of southern Alberta town's library
Didsbury RCMP says a worker at the community's library were hurt when a vehicle crashed through its front window on Monday.
Edmonton
-
Evacuations by plane and boat underway in Fort Chipewyan due to growing wildfire
A new wildfire in northern Alberta has become the province's priority as firefighters battle dozens of wildfires across Alberta.
-
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
-
This MLA-elect is the first Black woman to be elected to the Alberta Legislature
On Monday, Rhiannon Hoyle was elected to the riding of Edmonton-South, making her the first Black woman elected to the Alberta Legislature.
Vancouver
-
Putting Surrey Memorial Hospital's ER on diversion may be the only 'responsible recourse,' staff letter says
Frontline health-care workers at Surrey Memorial Hospital say the emergency room should be shut down to new patients if staff shortages continue to create "perilous" conditions for people in need of urgent care.
-
'Get out or be in the fire': Nova Scotians detail the moments when they fled their homes
Wildfires in Nova Scotia have burned thousands of hectares across the province, forcing many to flee their homes. Halifax-area residents tell CTV News what it was like for them when they had to evacuate.
-
B.C. teachers facing 'unsustainable' pressures due to staff shortages, union says
A "critical" shortage of teachers in B.C. is leading to increased workloads, mounting stress and an inability to meet students' needs, according to a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the union.