No. H151/05
For release - June 29, 2005
OTTAWA — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced that the Government of Canada will provide more than $11 million to improve safety at 80 railway crossings across Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has committed more than $100 million to such projects throughout the country.
"Since the grade crossing program was introduced in 1994, accidents, fatalities and injuries have decreased at rail crossings," said Mr. Lapierre. "This funding will allow us to continue to work with rail companies and communities to improve the safety of rail crossings for motorists and pedestrians throughout 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 and territories.
"Preventing tragedy on railroad tracks is a shared responsibility," added Mr. Lapierre. "The Government of Canada provides funding for warning devices, such as lights, gates and bells, but depends on all Canadians to respect these warnings and approach rail crossings with added caution."
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 from the 1995 level by the year 2006.
Funding for the grade crossing improvement program was provided for in the February 2005 main estimates and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
A backgrounder on railway crossing facts and a list of the crossings scheduled for improvements are attached.
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Contact:
Irène MarcheterreDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister(613) 991-0700
Cathy CossaboomCommunicationsTransport Canada(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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BACKGROUNDERRAILWAY 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, accidents at crossings still account for almost half of the railway-related deaths and injuries each year. For this reason, improving safety at rail crossings remains one of Transport Canada's top priorities.
There were 237 crossing accidents across Canada in 2004. These accidents resulted in a total of 25 fatalities and 50 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.
June 2005
PROVINCELOCATIONROADIMPROVEMENTFEDERAL CONTRIBUTION
British Columbia
Revelstoke
Pearson St.
Preemption
$89,125
British Columbia
Abbotsford
Hallert Rd.
Road closure
$85,600
British Columbia
Abbotsford
Sumas Mountain Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$155,200
British Columbia
Burnaby
Byrne Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and cantilevers
$180,000
British Columbia
Wasa
Highway 95A
LED lights
$5,800
British Columbia
Yale
Victoria St.
Gates and motion sensing device
$190,000
British Columbia
Fernie
4th St.
Gates and constant warning time device
$154,720
British Columbia
Hope
Silver Skagit Rd.
LED lights
$9,360
British Columbia
Radium
Horsethief Creek Rd.
Lights
$6,000
British Columbia
Spillimacheen
Westside Rd.
Flashing lights, bells and gates, constant warning time device and motion sensing devices
$236,880
British Columbia
Vancouver
Renfrew St.
Preemption
$14,314
British Columbia
Richmond
Cambie Rd.
Gates and constant warning time device
$160,000
Alberta
Calgary
11th St. SE
Gates, constant warning time device and preemption interconnection
$233,600
Alberta
Sylvan Lake
Westview Dr.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$219,760
Alberta
Innisfail
Cottonwood Rd.
Gates and constant warning time device
$184,800
Alberta
Penhold
SH 592
Gates and constant warning time device
$196,000
Alberta
Penhold
Mackenzie Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and motion sensing devices
$204,000
Alberta
Baintree
Highway 564
Flashing lights, bells and active advance warning sign
$14,647
Alberta
Baintree
Highway 564
Flashing lights, bells and active advance warning sign
$122,560
Alberta
Coaldale
Broxbum Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and motion sensing devices
$183,200
Alberta
Lethbridge
Range Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and motion sensing devices
$184,000
Alberta
East Edmonton
17th St.
Gates and constant warning time device
$203,200
Saskatchewan
Gull Lake
Municipal Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$260,000
Saskatchewan
Edenwold No. 158
Grid Rd.
Raise the grade
$17,185
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Shaftsbury Blvd.
Constant warning time device and stop
$110,320
Manitoba
Poplar Point
Municipal Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$228,000
Manitoba
Winnipeg Beach
Highway 9
Add extra lights
$9,360
Manitoba
High Bluff
Municipal Rd.
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$252,800
Manitoba
Portage la Prairie
Main St.
Constant warning time device
$188,640
Manitoba
Portage la Prairie
Third St.
Constant warning time device
$212,800
Manitoba
Provencher
Provincial Rd. 308
Gates and constant warning time device
$198,800
Manitoba
Giroux
Giroux St.
Road diversion
$2,848
Manitoba
Winnipeg
Ravenhurst St.
Constant warning time device
$192,960
Ontario
St-Thomas
Ferguson Line, County Rd. 48
Automated warning system
$90,780
Ontario
Ottawa
O'Neil Rd.
Realignment
$266,826
Ontario
Ottawa
O'Neil Rd.
Gates and predictor
$163,604
Ontario
Ottawa
Dunrobin Rd.
Gates and lights
$128,200
Ontario
Brantford
Hardy Rd.
Traffic signal, widening, and interconnection to traffic signal system
$416,000
Ontario
Brantford
Hardy Rd.
Relocation of existing auto protection, long gates, cantilever and preemption
$649,980
Ontario
Monkland
King's Highway 138
Automated warning system
$38,804
Ontario
Monkland
King's Highway 138
Automated warning system
$9,064
Ontario
Shawanaga
Village Rd.
Widen road approach
$32,600
Ontario
Shawanaga
Village Rd.
Automated warning system and constant warning time device
$201,040
Ontario
Warren
Highway 17
Active advance warning sign and LED lights
$45,887
Ontario
Warren
Highway 17
Lights
$20,208
Ontario
Midhurst
County Rd. 28
Active advance warning sign and LED lights
$14,553
Ontario
Midhurst
County Rd. 28
Gates, extra lights and interconnection.
$85,360
Ontario
Sudbury (Coniston)
Highway 17
Active advance warning sign, LED lights
$40,820
Ontario
Sudbury (Coniston)
Highway 17
Lights and preemption
$45,887
Ontario
Kitchener
Glasgow St.
Gates and preemption
$191,640
Ontario
Baden (Wilmot)
Mill St.
Gates and predictor
$181,724
Ontario
Levack
Highway 144
Constant warning time device, interconnection
$178,960
Ontario
Levack
Highway 144
Constant warning time device
$45,888
Ontario
Kingston
Brockham Rd.
Relocate mast
$88,120
Ontario
Thunder Bay
Camelot St.
Constant warning time device and preemption
$110,400
Ontario
Thunder Bay
Camelot St.
Traffic signal interconnection, upgrade and widen sidewalks
$110,401
Ontario
Thunder Bay
Pearl St.
Constant warning time device with preemption
$212,000
Ontario
Thunder Bay
Pearl St.
Turning lane and sidewalks
$187,600
Ontario
Cobourg
D'Arcy St.
Pedestrian maze
$14,800
Ontario
Napanee
Townline Rd.
Road approaches
$119,610
Ontario
Napanee
Townline Rd.
Gates and lights
$282,360
Ontario
Tyendinaga
Mowbray Rd.
Gates, automated warning system and constant warning time device
$41,894
Ontario
Quinte West
2nd Dug Hill Rd.
Road approaches
$190,592
Quebec
St-Augustin-de-Desmaures
Rue de l'Hétrière
Gates and mast
$145,440
Quebec
Lévis
Boul. Mgr Bourget
Preemption
$21,506
Quebec
Lévis
Boul. Mgr Bourget
Gates, cantilevered light unit and pre-emption
$179,760
Quebec
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
Boul. du Havre
Gates, constant warning time device, and mast
$203,680
Quebec
Amqui
Chemin aux Quatre-Vents
Flashing lights, bells and gates
$107,860
Quebec
St-Paulin
Route 350
Gates
$132,080
Quebec
Taschereau
Route 111
Prepare to stop
$23,200
Quebec
Taschereau
Route 111
Preemption, prepare to stop
$44,000
Quebec
St-Barthelemy
Montée des Laurentides
Gates and cantilevered light unit
$165,680
Quebec
St-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud
Rang Nord
Gates and constant warning time device
$205,680
Quebec
St-Liboire
Route 116
Cantilevered light unit
$92,160
Quebec
Montreal
Côte-de-Liesse
Flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device
$152,080
Quebec
St-Gédéon
Rue Dequen
Gates and mast
$143,440
Quebec
Hébertville-Station
Rue St-Wilbrod
Gates and cantilevered light unit
$150,240
Quebec
Saguenay (Arvida)
Boul. René-Lévesque
Gates
$184,080
New Brunswick
Tide Head
Riverside Rd.
Lights
$903
New Brunswick
Nauwigewauk
Darling Island Rd.
Relocate and realign
$245,190
Total
$11,109,060
June 2005
