Grade crossings to be safer with Government of Canada investment

News Release

No. H 068/09
For release - May 12, 2009

OTTAWA — The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), today announced that the Government of Canada will provide $7.1 million in new funding for the Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP) this year. In addition, the Economic Action Plan provides $28 million over the next five years to further enhance grade crossings.

"Our government takes the issue of rail safety very seriously," said Minister Merrifield. "We are committed to further reducing injuries and fatalities at crossings across the country. In collaboration with rail companies and communities, we are improving safety for motorists and pedestrians alike."

Rail safety in Canada will additionally benefit from the Government of Canada's 2009 Economic Action Plan, which is accelerating and expanding recent historic federal investment in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years. This includes $28 million over five years to enhance the GCIP, which will help save lives by improving safety at public grade crossings across Canada.

"Safety at railway crossings is something we can all get behind," said Canada's Transport Minister John Baird. "Communities across the country will be safer because our government is making these safety improvements happen."

The Government of Canada works closely with railway companies and communities to identify grade crossings that require safety improvements. Transport Canada provides funding for improvement projects at numerous sites every year. Under the GCIP, eligible railway crossings are upgraded, relocated or closed, based on an assessment of factors such as traffic volume and accident history. Improvements may include installing flashing lights and gates, linking crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, or adding new circuits or timing devices. Transport Canada 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.

The Government of Canada also supports other initiatives to improve safety at railway crossings, such as Operation Lifesaver, a national public education program whose goal is to reduce the needless loss of life, injuries and damages caused by highway/railway crossing collisions and train/pedestrian incidents.

Backgrounders on railway crossing facts and tips, and crossings scheduled for improvements are attached.

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Contacts:

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Backgrounder

Railway Crossing Facts and Tips

There are approximately 55,000 public, private and pedestrian highway-railway crossings in Canada.
There are still too many fatalities and injuries as a result of highway-railway crossing collisions.
Approximately 50 per cent of vehicle-train collisions occur at crossings with active warning devices (gates, lights, bells).
Trains cannot stop quickly. An average freight train travelling at 100 km/h requires about 1.1 kilometres to stop. A passenger train travelling at 120 km/h requires about 1.6 kilometres to stop. That's 14 football fields!
Look for the crossbuck symbol that indicates a highway-railway crossing. Some more heavily travelled highway-railway crossings have lights and bells or gates.
Listen for warning bells and whistles. Turn off, or turn down, distracting fans, heaters and radios until the crossing is safely cleared. Opening the window helps you hear better.
Never drive around lowered gates – it's illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number posted on or near the crossing signal or your local law enforcement agency.
Never race a train to the crossing – even in a tie, you lose.
Do not get trapped on the tracks. Proceed through a highway-railway crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember that the train is three feet wider than the tracks on both sides.
If your vehicle stalls on the tracks at a crossing, immediately get everyone out and far away from the tracks. Move in the direction that the train is approaching from to avoid being hit by debris, because the momentum of the train will sweep your vehicle forward.
When at a multiple-track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a second train on the other tracks, approaching from either direction.
Railway tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal, and trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. Too often the penalty is death.
In 2008, 47 people were killed and 20 others seriously injured while trespassing on railway property.
Do not walk, run, cycle or operate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railway tracks or rights of way or through tunnels.
Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or railway crossings. Observe and obey all warning signs and signals.
Do not attempt to hop aboard railway equipment at any time. A slip of the foot could cost you a limb or your life.

May 2009

Backgrounder

2009-2010 Grade Crossing Improvement Program Funding Recipients

PROVINCE	LOCATION	ROAD	IMPROVEMENT	FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION (up to)
Alberta	Acheson	Highway 60	Install LEDs and constant warning time device	$208,640.00
Alberta	Balzac	Secondary Highway 566	Add gates and install LEDs	$86,671.00
Alberta	Okotoks	Secondary Highway 549	Install LEDs	$8,493.00
Alberta	Province of Alberta	Various	Approximately 24 public crossings need retro-reflective material to be applied to comply with Grade Crossing Regulations	$3,600.00
Alberta	Ryley	Range Road 250	Add short-arm gates and constant warning time device	$68,560.00
Alberta	Strathcona County	Range Road 232	Add gates and constant warning time device	$181,440.00
Alberta	Suffield	Range Road 93	Install flashing lights, bells, gates and constant warning time device	$248,794.00
Alberta	Wildwood	47th Street	Add gates and constant warning time device	$251,840.00
British Columbia	Castlegar	Brilliant Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$5,543.00
British Columbia	City of Kamloops	Puett Ranch Road	Install LEDs and constant warning time device	$171,200.00
British Columbia	City of Kamloops	Vicars Road	Addition of LED blank-out signs	$10,400.00
British Columbia	City of New Westminster	Braid Street	Increase to 56 seconds of pre-emption	$84,800.00
British Columbia	Deroche	Harrison Bay Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$6,435.00
British Columbia	Deroche	Malcolm Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$6,435.00
British Columbia	Deroche	Highway 7	Upgrade to LED lights	$7,316.00
British Columbia	Dewdney	Highway 7	Upgrade to LED lights	$6,435.00
British Columbia	Golden	Anderson Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$6,435.00
British Columbia	Golden	Blaeberry Road East	Upgrade to LED lights	$6,679.00
British Columbia	Houston	Tweedie Avenue	Install LED pre-signals	$44,800.00
British Columbia	Mission	Catherwood Road	Addition of traffic lights and pre-emption circuits	$107,000.00
British Columbia	North Bend	Chaumox Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$10,225.00
British Columbia	Yahk	Yahk East Road	Upgrade to LED lights	$5,543.00
Manitoba	Dugald	Highway 15	Install LEDs	$14,720.00
Manitoba	Gregg	Highway 5	Add gates and install LEDs	$126,000.00
Manitoba	Smart	Provincial Road 270	Add gates and install LEDs	$108,080.00
Manitoba	St-Jean Baptiste	South Service Road	Overhead lighting	$5,706.00
Manitoba	St-Jean Baptiste	Park Road	Overhead lighting	$2,081.00
Manitoba	St-Jean Baptiste	North Service Road	Overhead lighting	$5,706.00
Manitoba	Winnipeg	Provincial Road 207	Add gates and install LEDs	$71,840.00
Manitoba	Winnipeg	Bison Drive	Add gates and constant warning time device	$250,160.00
Manitoba	Winnipeg	Bison Drive	Modify interconnection	$13,840.00
New Brunswick	Baker Brook	Cyr Street	Replace lights with LEDs	$9,760.00
New Brunswick	Baker Brook	Soucy Road	Replace lights with LEDs	$38,240.00
New Brunswick	Lac Baker	Baker Lake Island Rd	Replace lights with LEDs	$8,640.00
New Brunswick	Lac Baker	Ouellette Road	Replace lights with LEDs	$7,280.00
Nova Scotia	Halifax	Ochterloney St	Replace lights with LEDs	$12,240.00
Nova Scotia	Halifax	Windsor Junction Rd	Replace lights with LEDs	$7,440.00
Nova Scotia	Wentworth Station	Valley Road	Replace lights with LEDs	$7,280.00
Ontario	Cornwall	Tenth Street	Addition of left side mast and of LEDs	$38,240.00
Ontario	Ingersoll	McKeand Road	Removal of the existing asphalt surface to both the northerly and southerly rails, placement of cul-de-sacs on both sides of the CNR, fencing and site restoration	$129,268.00
Ontario	London	Richmond Street	Install channeling fencing for pedestrian gates	$34,240.00
Ontario	Markham	Langstaff Road	Addition of grade crossing predictors	$224,320.00
Ontario	Municipality of Clarington	Mearns Avenue	Install LED lights and constant warning time control equipment	$172,948.00
Ontario	Municipality of Whitestone	Highway 520	Installation of an additional mast and lights	$18,640.00
Ontario	Niagara Falls	Drummond Street	Add grade crossing predictors and gates	$245,920.00
Ontario	Quinte West	Montrose Road	Addition of gate assemblies, gate arms and upgrading of existing lights to LED light units to an existing flashing lights and bells installation	$135,553.00
Ontario	Rainy River	Government Road	Installation of gates and constant time warning devices	$265,600.00
Ontario	Ramara	Concession Road 7	New road crossing warning system, complete with gates and grade crossing predictors	$285,440.00
Ontario	Ramara	Concession Road 3	Installation of flashing lights, bell, gates and grade crossing predictors	$463,520.00
Ontario	Renfrew	Raglan Street	Replace lights with LEDs	$14,069.00
Ontario	Renfrew	Raglan Street	Remove sidewalk, close entrance adjacent to crossing by removing surface and restoration, construct curbs and barriers, replace sidewalk and relocate lamp post	$31,856.00
Ontario	Strathroy	Caradoc Street	Realign rail crossing	$112,000.00
Ontario	Tecumseh	L'Esperance Road	Interconnection of traffic lights with the crossing warning system.	$240,720.00
Ontario	Tecumseh	L'Esperance Road	Replace lights with LEDs	$6,960.00
Ontario	Township of Drummond/North Elmsley	Spence/Evans Road	Fencing and ditching accompanied by the closing	$7,440.00
Ontario	Township of Drummond/North Elmsley	Station Road	Installation of a crossing warning system consisting of flashing light signals, bell and gates	$155,560.00
Ontario	Township of Glengarry	First Line Rd	Construction of a level section and widening to 8 meters plus shoulders	$55,797.00
Ontario	Township of Shuniah	Mackenzie Street	Install LED lights and short arm gates	$246,385.00
Ontario	Windsor	Curry Avenue	Installation of flashing lights and bells	$118,363.00
Ontario	Wyoming	Plowing Match Road	Add active advance warning signs	$208,000.00
Quebec	Ange-Gardien	Rue Principale	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Beaconsfield	Avenue Woodland	Install LED	$4,684.00
Quebec	Coaticook	Rue St-Paul	Install LED	$4,200.00
Quebec	Coaticook	Rue Union	Install an additional mast	$16,000.00
Quebec	Coaticook	Chemin Lavoie	Install LED	$2,400.00
Quebec	Compton	Chemin Drouin	Install LED	$2,400.00
Quebec	Dixville	Chemin Stanhope Station	Install LED	$2,400.00
Quebec	Durham Sud	Chemin Lisgar	Install LED	$2,400.00
Quebec	Frontenac	Chemin du 4^e Rang	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Frontenac	Chemin du 3^e Rang	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Kahnawake	Chemin Kahnawake	Install LED	$5,995.00
Quebec	Lac-Mégantic	Rue Agnès	Install LED	$6,099.00
Quebec	Laval	Boulevard Bellerose	Install LED	$5,995.00
Quebec	Laval	Avenue des Terrasses	Install LED	$5,995.00
Quebec	Laval	Rue Venise	Install LED	$7,999.00
Quebec	L'Épiphanie	Route 339	Modification of pre-emption circuit	$47,440.00
Quebec	Mirabel	Chemin de la Côte Nord	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Mont Saint-Hilaire	Montée des Trente	Install LED	$6,560.00
Quebec	Mont Saint-Hilaire	Rue Ste-Anne	Install barriers and LEDs	$150,400.00
Quebec	Mont Saint-Hilaire	Chemin Rouillard	Install LED	$6,560.00
Quebec	Mont Saint-Hilaire	Chemin Benoit	Install LED	$5,995.00
Quebec	Montréal	Rue Wilderton	Install LED	$6,560.00
Quebec	Nantes	Route 162	Install LED	$9,758.00
Quebec	Pincourt	Boulevard Perrot	Install LED	$3,588.00
Quebec	Potton	Route 243	Install LED	$6,099.00
Quebec	Rosemère	Chemin de la Grande-Côte	Install LED	$5,995.00
Quebec	Rosemère	Rue Lacas	Install LED	$9,510.00
Quebec	Saint-Arsène	Rue de l'Église	Install barriers and lights, gates and constant time warning device	$151,981.00
Quebec	Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville	Boulevard Seigneurial	Install barriers and LED	$100,160.00
Quebec	Saint-Cyrille-de Wendover	Route 122	Increase barrier descent time	$50,160.00
Quebec	Saint-Hyacinthe	4^e Rang	Install LED	$2,400.00
Quebec	Saint-Jean	Rue Notre-Dame	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Saint-Jean	Chemin St-Evangéline	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu	Rue Mercier	Install LED	$7,348.00
Quebec	Saint-Marc-du-Lac-Long	Route 289	Modification of pre-emption circuit	$67,600.00
Quebec	Saint-Mathieu	Chemin St-Michel	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Saint-Pacôme	Chemin Haut de la rivière	Install barriers	$217,040.00
Quebec	Saint-Pascal	Boulevard Hébert/Route 230	Increase pre-emption and install LEDs	$135,440.00
Quebec	Sainte-Louise	Route de la Station	Install barriers	$133,360.00
Quebec	Sainte-Marie-Madeleine	Chemin du Grand-Rang	Install LED	$6,560.00
Quebec	Sainte-Perpétue	Rang Saint-Joseph/Route 289	Change time of descent of barrier	$37,920.00
Quebec	Sainte-Thérèse	Rue Blainville Ouest	Install LED	$7,999.00
Quebec	Scotstown	Chemin Victoria	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Scotstown	Chemin du Lac-Mégantic	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Sherbrooke	Rue du Parc	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Sherbrooke	Chemin St-Roch Sud	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Sherbrooke	Rue Emery-Fontaine	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Sherbrooke	Rue Mills	Install LED	$6,099.00
Quebec	Sherbrooke	Chemin Mitchell	Install LED	$4,879.00
Quebec	Sorel	Route 132	Install LED	$15,280.00
Quebec	St-Liboire	Rue St-Patrice	Install additional lights	$5,200.00
Quebec	St-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix	1^ère Avenue	Addition of LED lights	$9,440.00
Quebec	Sutton	Route 215	Install LED	$8,538.00
Quebec	Upton	Rue Lanoie	Install an additional mast	$38,400.00
Quebec	Val-Joli	11^e Rang	Modification of pre-emption circuit	$38,400.00
Quebec	Ville de Hudson	Rue de la Station	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Ville de Hudson	Rue Principale	Install LED	$5,010.00
Quebec	Waterville	Rue Principale	Install LED	$2,400.00
Saskatchewan	Bienfait	Section 30, Township 2, Range 6	Road diversion	$27,148.00
Saskatchewan	Moosomin	Saunders Road	Addition of gates, install LEDs, and warning time control equipment	$230,616.00
Total				$7,135,628.00

May 2009

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Grade crossings to be safer with Government of Canada investment

News Release

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