Lodging complaints with the Canadian Transportation Agency

[djollyfollee]

The Canadian Transportation Agency has a complaint process that may be used as a last resort, if Metrolinx can not be convinced to adjust some of its operations appropriately through collaborative discussion. This topic has been posted as a place to explore our options.

[djollyfollee]

Chris offered the following:

Here is a link to the noise and vibration complaint process, . Metrolinx falls under a Urban transit authority, .

The CAC could file a complaint against Metrolinx on behalf of the residents that they represent, we have to get that in writing from all residence that want to be part of the complaint though. The more people that are part of the complaint the better.

Once a compliant is made there is a 60 day collaborative time period where both parties are supposed to work on a resolution before it goes before the CTA for a decision. Historically Metrolinx has not been interested in collaborating and always take it to a decision with the CTA. This process is supposed to be quick and a decision or agreement should only take a few months after the initial complaint has been made.

Here is some more info on the process, .

[djollyfollee]

Sabina Sormova offered:

I sent a complaint to CTA in the fall on behalf of my community. MX kept waking us up with noise equivalent of jet planes and was not even letting us know about it….all on work nights between midnight and 4am, for 2 weeks we were not able to sleep.

CTA agent called me and we chatted couple of times. They explained that they are not the ideal body to deal with provincial operator but they (probably took a bit of pity on me) contacted MX to schedule a mediated mtg. MX refused and said they would meet with us only, without CTA. CTA gave me few hints on what to do if we meet with MX as a result of this. The agent also told me that we can trigger an official public complaint by filling online form(s). We have never followed up on it….but we may go back and push for an official complaint (the list is getting longer!).

CTA knows Metrolinx and they dealt with numerous complaints against them, some of them were successful (lookup Diamond West community)

Btw, CAC is going sideways for us – 4 months of discussions and our alarms and MX acknowledged and apologized for a lot of things. Then, on this Wed night, they gave us presentation with their TPAP for our area which contains ZERO input from CAC. They tried to explain that TPAP is different process from CAC but my response to them was “WHY bother with Community Advisory Committee if it won’t make any difference in the implementation of the project (which TPAP lays out)?

”Also, FYI, I have just recently learnt that VIA wants & will be expanding its service significantly between Toronto & Ottawa. They may only use diesel trains – Metrolinx never considered them in their modelling of noise/vibrations/air pollution. Something that your community should also watch for!

We are going to send request to MX CEO to delay Notice of Commencement (scheduled for Apr 19th). I highly doubt they will delay it but I want to have a record of us objecting and on what grounds.

I am happy to share the letter with you once I put it together & send it.