HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 48-02
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REPORT TO THE
FINANCE & OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Report Number: OES 48-02
Date: November 7,2002
From:
Richard W. Holborn, P.Eng.
Division Head
Municipal Property & Engineering
Subject:
Railway Crossing Gate Installations
Canadian Pacific Belleville Subdivision Line
Rosebank Road & Toronto/Pickering Townline Road Crossings
Recommendation:
1.
That Report OES 48-02 regarding the installation of automatic railway crossing
gates be received; and
2.
That City Council approve an expenditure of $33,000 from the $100,000
allocation for cost shared improvements within the 2002 Operations &
Emergency Services Capital Budget to provide for the City's share of the total
costs to install railway crossing gates at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road
and Rosebank Road level crossings of the Canadian Pacific Belleville
Subdivision Railway Line; and
3.
That City Council direct staff to investigate the future feasibility of prohibiting
locomotive whistling at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and Rosebank
Road level crossings and to report back on the matter.
Executive Summary: An opportunity currently exists to partner with Transport
Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway on the installation of automatic railway
crossing gates at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and Rosebank Road level
crossings of the Belleville Subdivision Railway Line. Not only do the automatic gates
improve crossing safety but they will also provide the City with the future opportunity to
pass a municipal by-law possibly allowing the cessation of the sounding of locomotive
whistles. As residential development continues to encroach upon these crossing
locations it can be expected that more frequent requests will be made by residents for
sound controls. The present arrangement will see the majority of the funding for the
gates, 87.5% of the total installation cost being bourne by the Railway and Transport
Canada.
Financial Implications: The installation of automatic railway crossing gates at the
Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and Rosebank Road level crossings of the Canadian
Report OES 48-02
Date: November 7, 2002
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Subject: Railway Crossing Gates
Page 2
Pacific Belleville Subdivision Railway Line are estimated to cost approximately
$152,100 and $181,400, respectively. Transport Canada has offered grants for these
installations, which will fund up to a maximum of 80% of the total cost. The remaining
20% of the installation must be split at legislated rates of 7.5% for the Railway and
12.5% for the Municipalities. The resulting estimated cost to the City of Pickering will
therefore be $9,506.25 for the Toronto/Pickering Townline Crossing and $22,675 for
Rosebank Road, or a total of $32,181.25. The cost for the Toronto/Pickering Townline
Road crossing is significantly less than the Rosebank Road crossing, as the charge will
be equally split between the City of Toronto and the City of Pickering at 6.25% each. In
the 2002 Capital Budget Roads 2320-6003, Council approved $100,000 as the City's
share to enter into a cost sharing arrangement for road improvements. It is
recommended that some of the funds be used.
The City of Pickering will also be responsible for an equal share of the increased
annual maintenance costs associated with crossing gates. The City's share of the
maintenance costs over what is currently paid without gates will be approximately $250
annually for the Toronto/Pickering Townline crossing and $500 annually for the
Rosebank Road crossing. These funds are budgeted for annually in account 2320-
2409.
Background: In July of 2002, officials from Transport Canada, Canadian Pacific
Railway, the City of Toronto and the City's Municipal Property & Engineering Division
met to review the proposal to install automatic crossing gates at the Toronto/Pickering
Townline Road and Rosebank Road level crossing locations of the Canadian Pacific
Belleville Subdivision Railway Line. A location map is attached and the crossings are
shown as point 1 and point 3 respectively. Each crossing review typically assesses
such existing and future conditions as traffic volumes, collision history, railway line
geometry, double track configurations, limited crossing visibility sightlines, high
mainline maximum train speeds, future increases in rail line usage and the continued
encroachment of adjacent development. It was also noted during the meeting that
crossing gates were being approved for the Beare Road and Reesor Road crossings in
the City of Toronto along the same line and as an economy of scale it would be prudent
to install gates at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and Rosebank Road crossings
at the same time.
In September of 2002, estimates were received from Canadian Pacific Railway that
outlined the total cost of the proposed works and the conditions that would need to be
fulfilled to proceed with the installations. Grants provided by Transport Canada are
expected to be approved and will fund up to a maximum of 80% of the total cost to
install gates at the two crossing locations. The designs provided by Canadian Pacific
Railway confirm total estimated installation costs of $152,100 for the Toronto/Pickering
Townline Road and $181,400 for the Rosebank Road crossing. The remaining 20% of
the total cost must be split at rates of 7.5% for the Railway and 12.5% for the respective
municipalities. The estimated cost to the City of Pickering will therefore be $22,675 for
Report OES 48-02
Date: November 7,2002
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Subject: Railway Crossing Gates
Page 3
Rosebank Road and $9,506.25 for the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road crossing as
the 12.5% cost will be split equally with the City of Toronto. The total financial
obligation to the City of Pickering is estimated at $32,181.25 for both locations.
Quite frequently the request for railway crossing gates originates from the complaints of
nearby residents about the sounding of the locomotive whistle. Although this has not
been the premise of the investigation on this occasion, the installation of fully automatic
crossing gates at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and Rosebank Road crossings
will provide the City with the future opportunity to pass a By-law allowing for the
possible cessation of the train whistle at each location. If the City decides to take this
approach in the future, the By-law must be accepted by Transport Canada subject to a
review of existing safety conditions where after an order will be issued to discontinue
the locomotive whistling upon approach to the crossings. Since inherent safety risks
will remain at each crossing following the discontinuance of the train whistle, it is the
policy of the Canadian Pacific Railway that the Municipality be required to share the
costs of third party liability insurance. This opportunity will be investigated upon the
direction of City Council and the completion of the Railway crossing gates.
The approval of the Railway's 7.5% share of the funding has been confirmed. In order
for the Canadian Pacific Railway to proceed with the ordering of the necessary
materials and to install the gates at the Toronto/Pickering Townline Road and
Rosebank Road crossings, the approval of funds will be required from the 2002
Operations and Emergency Services Capital Budget.
Attachments:
1.
Location Map
Prepared By:
.~
Stephen Brake
Supervisor,
Traffic & Waste Management
Everett
Director,
Operations & Emergency Services
Report OES 48-02
Date: November 7,2002
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Subject: Railway Crossing Gates
Page 4
Submitted By:
CSB: csb/Railways/RTG-Townline & Rosebank, Beneville Sub
Attachments
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Recommended for the consideration of
Pickering City Council
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OPERATIONS & EMERGENCY
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY &
ENGINEERING DIVISION
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RE'I1SED DATEo
NOV 8/2002
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RAILWAY CROSSING GATES REPORT
ROSEBANK ROAD AND SCARBOROUGH/PICKERING TOWN LINE ROAD CROSSINGS
CANADIAN PACIFIC BELLEVILLE SUBDIVISION LINE