No. H082/02For release - July 29, 2002
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the Government of Canada will provide more than $8.7 million to improve safety at 71 railway crossings across Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed $73.3 million to 747 projects across Canada."Although accident rates and crossing fatalities in Canada have decreased over the last 10 years, accidents at railway crossings resulted in 41 fatalities and 47 injuries across the country last year," said Mr. Collenette. "This financial assistance will help communities and railways improve the safety of railway crossings in Canada."Under Transport Canada's grade crossing improvement program, eligible railway crossings are either upgraded, relocated or closed. Improvements may include the installation of flashing lights and gates, the addition of gates or extra lights to existing systems, the interconnection of crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, the modification of operating circuits, or the addition of new circuits or timing devices. The department finances up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the improvements, with the balance provided by the railways, municipalities or provinces."Safety is a shared responsibility. Motorists and pedestrians must also take action to reduce risks at railway crossings," added Mr. Collenette. "Even crossings equipped with automated warning devices - such as bells and gates - demand caution and prudent driving."For this reason, Transport Canada supports two other initiatives to improve safety at railway crossings: Operation Lifesaver, a public education program of the Railway Association of Canada that has promoted safety at railway crossings since 1981; and Direction 2006, a partnership of governments, railway companies and their unions working to reduce collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.Funding for the grade crossing improvement program was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.A backgrounder and a list of the crossings scheduled for improvement are attached.
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Contact:
Christina Van LoonCommunications, Ottawa(613) 993-0055
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BACKGROUNDER
RAILWAY CROSSING FACTS
Transport Canada has a permanent safety inspection program to monitor railway crossings, to ensure standards are met under the Railway Safety Act, and to identify areas for improvement.
The Transport Canada grade crossing improvement program contributes approximately $7.5 million over the course of each year to improve rail crossing safety across Canada. Funding decisions are based on pre-established regional accident and serious-injury criteria over a five-year period, and funding is allocated to various regions at different times of the year.
Although rail-related accident rates and crossing fatalities have decreased over the last ten years, improving safety at rail crossings is one of Transport Canada's top priorities, as accidents at crossings account for almost half of the railway-related deaths and injuries each year.
There were 278 crossing accidents across Canada in 2001. These accidents resulted in a total of 41 fatalities and 47 injuries.
Passenger trains travel up to 160 km/h and freight trains 105 km/h.
It can take a train more than one minute to come to a complete stop. For example, in perfect weather, an 88?car freight train weighing 13,000 tonnes and travelling 96 km/h would cover about two kilometres before stopping.
In addition to funding up to 80 per cent of improvements to eligible crossings, Transport Canada works with the Railway Association of Canada on Operation Lifesaver, a public education program.
Transport Canada also participates in Direction 2006, a partnership among all levels of government, railway companies and unions with a goal of reducing grade crossing collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.
July 2002
PROVINCE
LOCATION
ROAD
FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION
British Columbia
Chilliwack
Industrial Way, 1 km west of Lickman Road
$64,000
British Columbia
Langley
Worrell Road, .5 km west of Crush Road and Glover Road
$148,480
British Columbia
Langley
River Road, 1 km east of Fort Langley
$155,360
British Columbia
Dewdney
Hawkins Pickle (Bell) Road, 2 km east of Dewdney
$166,720
British Columbia
Yale
Parklane Drive, 12 km north of Hope
$143,920
British Columbia
Yale
Yurkins Drive, 14 km north of Hope
$133,720
British Columbia
Enderby
Cliff Street
$4,106
Alberta
Parkland County
Spruce Valley Road, 10 km west of Edmonton off Highway 16
$148,320
Alberta
Griesbach
Range Road 224
$105,600
Alberta
Sylvan Lake
46th Street
$90,160
Saskatchewan
Winter Siding
Grid Road 675, southwest of Highway 787 (10 km east of Senlac)
$238,320
Saskatchewan
Belleplaine
Briercrest Road, 7 km west of Belleplaine
$156,800
Saskatchewan
Red Jacket
Municipal Road, 12 km west of Moosimin
$196,000
Saskatchewan
North Battleford
Thatcher Avenue
$166,400
Saskatchewan
Browning
Grid Road 605, .5 km northeast of Lampman
$4,800
Saskatchewan
St. Brieux
Barbier Drive (Grid Road 779)
$91,200
Saskatchewan
Coté
Highway 5, south of Highway 57 (1 km east of Coté)
$7,760
Saskatchewan
Coté
Highway 5, south of Highway 57 (1 km east of Coté)
$45,120
Saskatchewan
Raymore
Municipal Road (off Highway 15), .5 km east of Raymore
$197,280
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Clarence Avenue
$102,560
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Lorne Avenue
$137,440
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Preston Avenue
$154,400
Saskatchewan
Estevan
Woodlawn Avenue
$150,400
Saskatchewan
Estevan
Municipal Road, 1 km west of Estevan
$157,600
Saskatchewan
Regina
Dewdney Avenue, Regina Terminal
$53,600
Saskatchewan
Juniata Siding
Municipal Road, 10 km east of Kinley
$144,080
Saskatchewan
Lang
Main Street
$156,000
Saskatchewan
Lady
Lake Highway 9
$3,294
Saskatchewan
Waldron
Main Farm Access Road, 1 km east of Waldron
$75,300
Manitoba
Bloom Siding
Provincial Trunk Highway 16, 11km west of Portage La Prairie
$77,200
Manitoba
Bloom Siding
Municipal Road, 12 km west of Portage La Prairie
$208,000
Manitoba
Brandon
Victoria Avenue
$100,000
Manitoba
Hargrave
Kinaird Road, 4 km east of Hargrave
$182,400
Manitoba
Dugald
Spruce Road, .5 km east of Dugald
$250,720
Manitoba
Winnipeg
McGillivray Blvd.
$8,800
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Callsbeck Avenue
$176,000
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Elizabeth Road
$150,400
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Murray Road
$96,000
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Bairdmore Blvd. North
$5,960
Manitoba
Whitemouth
Main Street
$8,000
Manitoba
Whitemouth
Whitemouth Highway 44
$8,000
Ontario
Ottawa
Cambrian Road, between Richmond Road and Highway 416
$78,240
Ontario
Ottawa
Twin Elm Road, between Richmond Road and Highway 416
$75,040
Ontario
Ottawa
Barnsdale Road, between Richmond Road and Highway 416
$77,040
Ontario
Ottawa
Bearbrook Road
$201,266
Ontario
Ottawa
Carlsbad Lane
$147,635
Ontario
Ottawa
Hall Road
$187,631
Ontario
Ottawa
Boundary Road, between Ottawa and Montague TWP
$65,520
Ontario
Glen Robertson
County Road 10
$150,300
Ontario
Caledon
King Road
$145,360
Ontario
Montague
Rosedale Road
$65,520
Ontario
Maxville
County Road 22
$145,857
Ontario
Burlington
Side Road 1
$188,800
Ontario
Beaverton
Simcoe Road
$285,430
Ontario
Beaverton
Victoria Road
$174,268
Ontario
Cornwall
Boundary Road
$299,415
Ontario
Petawawa
Doran Road
$155,364
Ontario
McDougall
Bunny Trail
$184,127
Ontario
Cambridge
Montrose Street
$170,120
Ontario
Cambridge
Montrose Street
$18,000
Ontario
Ardberg
Bunny Trail
$172,896
Ontario
Cobourg
Burnham Street
$13,606
Ontario
Almonte
Bridge Street
$76,199
Ontario
Brockville
Bartholomew Street
$27,850
Ontario
Brockville
Park Street
$42,586
Ontario
Greenfield
East of Maxville Main Street
$181,696
Ontario
Toronto
Bears Road
$174,960
Ontario
Toronto
Ressor Road
$177,680
Ontario
Kenora
Jones Road
$172,800
Ontario
Kenora
Jones Road
$40,405
New Brunswick
Dieppe
Highway 15
$186,500
Total:
$8,752,331
