Upgrades may be coming to try and limit noise near railway crossings in Belleville.
City Council approved putting a funding application forward at its meeting Monday to the Rail Safety Initiatives Fund for upgrades and whistle cessation at CP Rail Crossings at Elmwood Road and Mitchell Road.
Part of the motion asked that the 2026 Capital Budget be amended in the amount of $400,000, with funding split even, $200,000 from the Asset Management Reserve Fund and $200,000 from the Rail Safety Improvement Program Fund.
At the City of Belleville Transportation Committee in July 2020, the city received a public request to cease Train Whistles/Blowing near Elmwood Crossing (CP) and subsequently provided a report to the Transportation Committee the next month.
At the June 1, 2023 Committee meeting, it was revisited and a requested from the Committee that staff retain a consultant to do a Whistling Cessation Study.
This project was originally approved by Council within the 2024 Capital Budget.
Councillor Paul Carr remarked that the public can reach out to Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette to ask for his advocacy and support to allow this application to pass through Transport Canada.
A full city staff report can be read at this link.
