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The city is looking for federal funding to improve safety along the CN tracks near downtown Kamloops.

A potential $1.8 million grant, or 80 per cent of the total project cost, from the federal government would be used for safety improvements at two rail crossings along Lorne Street. 

CN won a contracted to carry coal to the west coast in spring 2021, leading to more trains, and more noise, in the area. Residents have been appealing to the city to have the whistles stopped as trains roll through the city along Lorne Street, but the city needs better safety measures first. 

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In order to stop the train whistles, the city needs to build warning system upgrades at intersections along Lorne Street between 7 and 8 Avenue.

The city would also have to buy land to build new fencing between those crossings.

While the funding needed is currently expected to be $2.3 million, that doesn't include the land cost.

"So apply for (the grant), get it, then buy land at an unknown price. That's going to be a burden on the taxpayers," Coun. Bill Sarai said at the Aug. 17 council meeting.

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City staff said the land purchase is already estimated, but it couldn't be spoken about at the public meeting since land negotiations are always discussed in closed council meetings.

Replacing whistles with safety bells means a significant drop in volume.

Staff said train whistles register at 143 decibels compared to bells tolling at about 84 decibels.

That's like the difference between a plane at take off and a lawnmower, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S.

Council approved the grant application, but city staff said it could take years before the project is finished, which isn't uncommon for railroad projects.

It also wouldn't stop trains at the nearby CP rail yard from sounding their whistles during a crew change, which can happen roughly eight times per day, according to the report.

— This story was corrected at 8:18 a.m. Aug. 19, 2022, to say the Canadian Pacific rail yard is near Lorne Street, not the Canadian National rail yard.

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