The Public Input Meeting hosted by North Vancouver City Council on Wednesday, May 23rd allowed residents to voice their concerns about Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV) Proposed Low Level Road Project. The key themes of the evening were potential increases in noise levels and air pollution in the future, and that the noise and environmental studies have not been delivered by PMV.
Archive for the ‘Train Whistles’ Category
Residents to PMV: Show Us the Noise Study!
Posted: May 31, 2012 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Low Level Road Project, Port Metro Vancouver
North Van Port & Rail Expansion Project?
Posted: June 12, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Train WhistlesTags: Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, North Shore Trade Area Program, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Train Whistles
The “North Van Port & Rail Expansion Project”, aka the Low Level Road Improvement Project (LLRIP), has been marketed to local residents as a project that will benefit the community in many ways. Examples include reduced rail noise such as train whistling and shunting, improved road safety, reduced traffic congestion, improved emergency response capabilities, improved slope stability, improved bike lanes, new pedestrian sidewalks, etc.
The missing elements to this marketing campaign are the statement of benefits to the Port and its partners including CN Rail. The presentation boards and glossy brochures merely state that the project “will enhance rail and port operations” and the only reference to port expansion is the statement: “Provision for two new rail tracks by re-aligning the existing Low Level Road, to improve trade efficiency and reduce noise from rail car switching by facilitating the use of longer trains”.
Town Hall Meeting on May 25th, 2011
Posted: May 25, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver
Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) and the City of North Vancouver (CNV) will host a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, May 25th at the Pinnacle Hotel from 5:30pm to 8:30pm regarding the proposed Low Level Road Improvement Project. The Public Notice states that the first hour will be an Open House and the Town Hall Meeting will begin at 6:30pm.
Crossing Assessment Report Released
Posted: May 7, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver
Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) will return to the City of North Vancouver (CNV) Council Meeting on Monday, May 9, 2011 to present the results from the long overdue Crossing Assessment Report. In December 2009, CNV City Council approved expenditure of funds on a study to be performed on all at-grade rail crossings on the North Shore between the Second Narrows Bridge and the Lions Gate Bridge. It was recognized that train whistling had become an even more significant issue on the North Shore since June 2009 when noise complaints from residents increased considerably. See the post “Tired of Rail Noise in North Vancouver?” The purpose of the study was to determine how anti-whistling could be achieved for each of the crossings.
PMV: Change of Plans!
Posted: May 1, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vanco, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train Whistles
The event on Wednesday, May 4th has been changed to a Community Open House. The Town Hall Meeting has been moved to Wednesday, May 25th.
Town Hall Meeting on May 4th, 2011
Posted: April 20, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train Whistles
The Public Information Meeting
Public reaction to Port Metro Vancouver’s (PMV) proposed Low Level Road Improvement Project has prompted the PMV to hold a Town Hall Meeting in conjunction with the City of North Vancouver (CNV). The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 4th, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall, 170 West 3rd Street in North Vancouver.
Many local residents were unaware of this proposed project and the Community Open House held in February 2011, and many residents objected to this project outright or have significant concerns about the design of this project. This Town Hall Meeting has been organized in response to these concerns. North Vancouver residents need to attend this event, voice their concerns, ask questions and provide input!
Blowing the Whistle on Sleep Deprivation
Posted: March 13, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, District of North Vancouver, Idling Locomotives, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: Chronic Sleep Deprivation, CN Rail, Daylight Savings Time, DST, North Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Sleep Deprivation, Squealing Wheels, Train Whistles
It’s that time of year again when our clocks spring forward and give us an extra hour of daylight. However, many people are bleary-eyed on the Monday after Daylight Savings Time (DST) goes into effect. The loss of one hour of sleep due to DST can have a significant impact on many people.
On March 9th, ICBC posted a news article on their website entitled “ICBC urges drivers to plan ahead for Daylight Savings Time.” The article compares the loss of sleep to being an impaired driver: “The impact of the loss of an hour sleep can lead to us being impaired as drivers. When most of us think of impaired driving, we think of people who drink and drive. But anything that decreases your ability to judge the situation around you and to react appropriately can be dangerous.”
Feedback for Low Level Road Improvement Project
Posted: February 16, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Train WhistlesTags: City of North Vancouver, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Train Whistling
The Community Open House hosted by Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) and the City of North Vancouver on Thursday, February 10, 2011 outlined the proposed Low Level Road Improvement Project. There were many large presentation boards available for viewing and members of the Project Team were on hand to speak directly with participants to explain the project and answer participants’ questions. The event was a drop-in format so one could spend as much time or as little time as desired.
PMV’s Community Open House
Posted: February 6, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Idling Locomotives, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: Asia-Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative, City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Community Open House, Idling Locomotives, Noise Pollution, North Shore Trade Area Program, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train Whistles
Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) is hosting a Community Open House on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm for North Vancouver residents to learn more about the proposed Low Level Road Improvement Project. This infrastructure project will have significant benefits to the rail noise pollution that is currently affecting residents in Lower Lonsdale. See the recent post A Solution for Lower Lonsdale! for more details about this project.
A Solution for Lower Lonsdale!
Posted: January 23, 2011 in City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Idling Locomotives, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train WhistlesTags: Asia-Pacific Gateway & Corridor Initiative, City of North Vancouver, CN Rail, Community Open House, Idling Locomotives, Low Level Road Improvement Project, Noise Pollution, North Shore Trade Area Program, Port Metro Vancouver, Shunting Noises, Squealing Wheels, Train Whistles
The Project
On December 13, 2010, Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) gave a presentation to North Vancouver City Council regarding their Low Level Road Improvement Project. The scope of the project is extensive but the primary components of this project that are relevant to Lower Lonsdale residents affected by rail noise include:
- Closing the St. Andrew’s uncontrolled crossing
- Closing the St. Patrick’s uncontrolled crossing
- Building an overpass close to St. Patrick’s Street for vehicle access to the industrial businesses on the waterfront
- Building an overpass next to the Neptune and Cargill terminals and closing a 3rd uncontrolled crossing
The primary benefits of these changes mean an improved level of safety because 3 uncontrolled crossings will be closed permanently. This means that the CN Rail locomotives will not have to blast their whistles at these crossings!
