Brooks Alberta - The City of Brooks is again looking at silencing train whistles which would result in having to upgrade their rail crossings.
 
City council has not discussed this issue publicly.
 
However, Alicia Bartlette the city's manager of planning and engineering, said rail crossings have been a part of previous budgets.
 
She said the city has been waiting for information about the crossing from CP since December and there has been an unknown number of complaints regarding the whistle since that time.
 
She said instead of delaying the issue and waiting for the information, it was decided to see where the public wants it to go.
 
Quieting the train whistle is an expensive endeavour and one that has been discussed in the past.
 
In 2001 a resident presented a petition with 35 signatures to the city's operational services committee with 1,100 signatures.
 
At that time Transport Canada wanted the city to pay $130,000 to improve crossings at 7th Street, Young Road, and the pedestrian crossing to Sunnylea.
 
The fourth crossing that was not included the 2001 quote is the one at Range Road 151.
 
In 2008 a request from a single citizen was made to the council's operational services committee to quiet the whistle but there were staff changes and the issue seemingly was dropped.
 
Although Transport Canada does allow municipalities to quiet the whistle, there are many steps that need to be taken, and regulations that must be followed including contacting CP, notifying the public, and numerous requirements under various federal acts and regulations.
 
Salem Woodrow, a CP spokesperson, said the whistle cessation outline is extensive.
 
She could not provide costs.
 
The city's survey is open until 2 Apr 2021.
 
Sandra Stanway.