No. H088/04 For release October 29, 2004 TORONTO - The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Ontario, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide $4,603,675 to improve safety at 35 railway crossings in Ontario. This funding is part of a federal contribution of over $10 million announced today to improve safety at 92 railway crossings in Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed more than $35 million to crossing improvement projects in Ontario. "We have seen a marked improvement in accident rates and crossing fatalities across Canada over the last 10 years. However, there is still work to be done," said Mr. Volpe. "This financial assistance will help the province of Ontario improve railway crossing safety." 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. "We all have an important role to play in railway crossing safety, whether as a motorist or as a pedestrian," said Mr. Lapierre. "Even crossings equipped with automated warning devices - such as bells and gates - demand caution and prudent driving." 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 in Ontario are attached. - 30 - Contact: Gail Crossman Transport Canada Communications, Toronto (416) 952-0156 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. 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 approximately $7.5 million over the course of each year to improve safety at rail 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 248 crossing collisions across Canada in 2003. These accidents resulted in a total of 26 fatalities and 51 serious 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. October 2004 PROVINCE LOCATION ROAD IMPROVEMENT FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION Ontario Alexandria St. Michael Street Short arm gates $114,480 Ontario Bala (Township Muskoka Lakes) Gordon Street Extra flashing light units and gates $138,960 Ontario Barwick Main Street Gates and grade crossing predictors $228,080 Ontario Bothwell Road 6 Flashing lights, bells and gates $190,455 Ontario Brantford Hardy Road Flashing lights and grade crossing predictors $60,772 Ontario Brantford Stanley Street Lights, light-emitting diode $6,790 Ontario Burwash Trout Lake Road Flashing lights, gates, constant warning time device and motion sensing device (on siding) $248,320 Ontario Grimsby Baker Road Flashing lights, bells and short arm gates $291,600 Ontario Ingersoll Thames Street Lights and change mast $11,948 Ontario Kingston Counter Street Grade crossing predictors $356,320 Ontario London Burwell Street Removal of crossing $50,820 Ontario London Second Street Gates and grade crossing predictors $152,960 Ontario New Hamburg Waterloo Street Gates and advance pre-emption $220,710 Ontario Nipigon Fifth Street Gates and constant warning time device $308,160 Ontario North Elmsley Armstrong Road Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device $215,680 Ontario Perth Drummond Street Roadwork $27,080 Ontario Petawawa Murphy Road Gates and constant warning time device $147,200 Ontario Pickering Rosebank Road Gates and constant warning time device $194,960 Ontario Pickering Townline Road Gates and constant warning time device $64,720 Ontario Plympton-Wyoming Stewardson Road Approaches $51,752 Ontario Plympton-Wyoming Minielly Road Level section and widening $73,705 Ontario Plympton-Wyoming South Plympton Road Level section and widening $77,997 Ontario Plympton-Wyoming Fairweather Road Level section and widening $96,613 Ontario Port Hope Hope Street Gates and constant warning time device $211,280 Ontario Rutter Highway 64 Gates and constant warning time device $64,120 Ontario Schrieber Main Street Diversion road $261,216 Ontario Simcoe-Grey Baldwick Lane Flashing light signals, bells, gates and constant warning time device $238,800 Ontario Spence County Road #10 Gates, constant warning time device and extra flashing light units $202,640 Ontario Toronto Old Weston Road Extra flashing light units and bells $12,640 Ontario Township of Champlain Aberdeem Road East Lights $3,094 Ontario Township of Champlain Greenlane Road West Lights $2,520 Ontario Township of Champlain Happy Hollow Road Lights $2,958 Ontario Township of Champlain MacCallum's Lane Lights $3,118 Ontario Township of Champlain Pleasant Corners Road Lights $3,147 Ontario Upsala Graham Road Flashing light signals, bells, gates and motion sensing device $268,000 Total $4,603,675
