No. H069/03For release - June 25, 2003
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the Government of Canada will provide more than $10.2 million to improve safety at 92 railway crossings across Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed more than $90.3 million to crossing improvement projects nation-wide.
"Transport Canada continually provides for the enhancement of safety in our rail transportation system," said Mr. Collenette. "This financial assistance will make crossings safer, and help to reduce crossing accidents, injuries and fatalities across Canada."
Under Transport Canada's grade crossing improvement program, eligible railway crossings are either upgraded, relocated or closed. Improvements may include installing flashing lights and gates, adding gates or extra lights to existing systems, linking crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, modifying operating circuits, or adding 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.
"I am pleased that the railways, municipalities and provinces are working with Transport Canada and contributing to these projects," said Mr. Collenette. "We all have a role to play in safety. Motorists and pedestrians must use caution at all times, even though crossings may be equipped with warning devices."
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 2003 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:
Amy ButcherPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister, Ottawa(613) 991-0700
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BACKGROUNDER
RAILWAY CROSSING FACTS
Transport Canada has a permanent safety inspection program to monitor railway crossings and compliance with standards under the Railway Safety Act, and to identify areas for improvement.
The Transport Canada grade crossing improvement program contributes, on average, $7.5 million over the course of each year to improve safety at railway crossings 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 10 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 261 crossing accidents across Canada in 2002. These accidents resulted in a total of 46 fatalities and 42 injuries.
Passenger trains travel at speeds of up to 160 km/h and freight trains can reach 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.
June 2003
Province
Location
Road
Federal Contribution
British Columbia
Abbotsford
Maclure Road
$155,304
British Columbia
Ashcroft
Railway Avenue
$108,960
British Columbia
Kamloops
Singh Street
$73,920
British Columbia
Kamloops
Singh Street
$64,197
British Columbia
Salmon Arm
72nd Avenue N.E.
$166,320
British Columbia
Salmon Arm
73rd Avenue N.E.
$17,151
British Columbia
Salmon Arm
Narcisse Street
$7,880
Alberta
Calgary
50th Avenue
$161,600
Alberta
Cochrane
5th Avenue
$139,200
Alberta
Daysland
SH 855 near Hwy 13
$145,600
Alberta
Edmonton
76th Avenue
$169,760
Alberta
Edmonton
17th Street
$180,960
Saskatchewan
Battleford
Battleford Road
$184,080
Saskatchewan
Lloydminster
49th Avenue
$173,600
Saskatchewan
Lloydminster
49th and 50th Avenue
$417,840
Saskatchewan
Lloydminster
50th Avenue
$191,200
Saskatchewan
Wilkie
Municipal Road
$11,078
Saskatchewan
Moose Jaw
Highway 363
$128,800
Saskatchewan
RM of Vanscoy
Grid Rd 672
$197,840
Saskatchewan
RM of Vanscoy
Grid Rd 673
$191,120
Saskatchewan
RM Sherwood
Armour Road
$160,000
Saskatchewan
Swift Current
Highway # 4
$136,000
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
22nd Street
$228,000
Manitoba
Alexander
Municipal Road
$193,600
Manitoba
Alexander
Municipal Road
$193,600
Manitoba
Alexander
PR 250
$165,600
Manitoba
Bloom Siding
Provincial Trunk Hwy 16
$26,160
Manitoba
St-Lazare
Provincial Trunk Hwy 41
$46,960
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Panet Road
$146,400
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Munroe Avenue
$143,200
Ontario
Baden
Snyders Road
$274,400
Ontario
Barwick
Highway #11
$190,880
Ontario
Chatham-Kent
Zone Road 9
$186,235
Ontario
Chatham/Kent Township
4th Concession Road
$203,550
Ontario
Cobden
Hwy #17
$20,292
Ontario
Elizabeth
Perch Lake Road
$217,200
Ontario
Kenora
Transmitter Road
$52,000
Ontario
Kenora
Transmitter Road
$176,000
Ontario
Kenora
Transmitter Road
$352,700
Ontario
Kingston
792 Bath Road
$182,405
Ontario
Kingston
792 Bath Road
$62,770
Ontario
Kingston
Collins Bay Road
$138,295
Ontario
Kingston
Collins Bay Road
$166,404
Ontario
Kingston
Best Chase Road
$63,509
Ontario
Kingston
Best Chase Road
$220,660
Ontario
Laurentian Valley
Rankin Street
$99,460
Ontario
Lochiel, N Glengary
McPhee Road
$29,948
Ontario
Montague
Woods Road
$15,420
Ontario
Niagara Falls
Kalar Road
$161,956
Ontario
Niagara Falls
Beaverdam Road
$162,530
Ontario
North Elmsley
Churchill Road
$186,144
Ontario
North Stormont
Forced Road
$80,824
Ontario
Pickerel
Pickerel River Road
$227,400
Ontario
Scarborough
Ressor Road
$176,020
Ontario
Stevensville
Victoria Street
$200,488
Quebec
Cap-Saint-Ignace
Petit-Cap Road
$215,600
Quebec
Chandler
René-Hubert Ave
$400
Quebec
Crabtree
St-Michel Road
$144,240
Quebec
Escuminac
Rte Green
$400
Quebec
Escuminac
St-Antoine Road
$400
Quebec
Escuminac
Cellard Road
$400
Quebec
Escuminac
Rte 132
$400
Quebec
Herbertville Station
Rte 169
$77,600
Quebec
Hope
Rte Whitton
$400
Quebec
Hope Town
Rte Tennier
$400
Quebec
Hope Town
Rte Vieux-Moulin E.
$400
Quebec
Lemieux
16th Range Road
$172,080
Quebec
Pabos
Rue de l'Église
$400
Quebec
Paspébiac
Desroches Road
$400
Quebec
Paspébiac
St-Pie X Street
$400
Quebec
Paspébiac
3e Avenue
$400
Quebec
Paspébiac
9e Rue
$400
Quebec
Paspébiac-Ouest
1re Rue
$400
Quebec
Port-Daniel
Rte Marcil
$400
Quebec
Port-Daniel
Rte 6
$400
Quebec
Port-Daniel
Rte Clemville
$400
Quebec
Port-Daniel
Rte Pointe-à-la-Croix
$400
Quebec
Port-Daniel
Rte McInnes
$400
Quebec
Newport
School Roadway
$400
Quebec
Newport
Access Road
$400
Quebec
Newport
Rte Des Cyr
$400
Quebec
Sainte-Anne-de-la Pocatière
Martineau Road
$195,680
Quebec
Saint-François-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud
Montée St-François
$117,040
Quebec
Saint-Germain-de-Grantham
10th Range Road
$175,040
Quebec
Sainte-Germaine-de-l'Anse-aux-Gascons
Rte Morin
$400
Quebec
Sainte-Hélène-de-Kamouraska
Rte de l'Église
$154,800
Quebec
Saint-Léonard-d'Aston
Bureau Road
$265,920
Quebec
Saint-Léonard-d'Aston
Des Martin Range
$101,440
Quebec
Shigawake
Rte Sullivan
$400
Quebec
Val-Alain
Trépanier Road
$190,400
Nova Scotia
Dartmouth
Wright Avenue
$160,720
Nova Scotia
Dartmouth
Princess Margaret Blvd
$104,000
Total
$10,257,580
