Residents in Regina’ Eastview neighbourhood will have to endure train noise a little longer as the city decides the best way forward.
During City Council Wednesday, a motion brought forward to address train noise was tabled until after the city directs train traffic away from Ring Road.
Mayor Sandra Masters says there’s not a whole lot the city can do about the decades-long issue.
“We’re a community that was built where we are due to the rail line location. Regina depended on that for some time, and still, it’s one of our assets in terms of being able to move product to market,” said Masters. “Part of the issue is that it’s a federally regulated area, and Transport Canada has ultimate authority over that.”
Masters adds Transport Canada says the whistles currently in use are the best way to deal with safety concerns.
She adds one of the city’s concerns is spending money on a project that wouldn’t be approved by Transport Canada.
“Once we can deal with the relocation of the rail on Ring Road, which will reroute traffic outside of the city to a certain extent,” said Masters. “To replace a train whistle to the clanging of bells that will be in place for the duration of the train clearing that intersection, I think you’re going to spend a lot of money to end up with an equivalent problem.”
With this issue dating back to the 80s, Masters says Eastview residents just need to continue being patient.
“I don’t think the train whistles are going away for now, it’s for their safety,” said Masters. “I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel, relative to clearing some of the train traffic outside of the city limits, so if they could continue to be patient, perhaps for a couple more years, based upon the fact that it’s been there for decades, we’re hopeful there will be remediation in terms of the volume of train traffic through the neighbourhood.
Masters says the city doesn’t have a timetable as to when the relocation of the train tracks on Ring Road will be complete.
