No. H040/11
For release - June 9, 2011
OTTAWA — The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the Government of Canada's support for the third annual International Level Crossing Awareness Day on June 9, 2011. Level crossings are points at which a rail line and a road intersect. The initiative aims to make people aware that rail accidents can be avoided by obeying traffic rules, and being vigilant at and around level crossings. The rail and road sectors in more than 45 countries worldwide are jointly organizing International Level Crossing Awareness Day on June 9, 2011.
"Our government takes the issue of rail safety very seriously, and we have a good record on making level crossings safer," said Minister Lebel. "We are committed to further improvements that will reduce injuries and deaths at crossings all across Canada. Together with rail companies and communities, we are improving safety for motorists and pedestrians alike."
To reduce these accidents, many countries are making level crossings safer or removing them altogether. This is a long-term undertaking because there are still hundreds of thousands of level crossings around the world. Removing them involves huge costs, detailed study and lengthy implementation times.
"Safety at railway crossings is something we can all get behind," said Minister Lebel. "Communities across the country will be safer because our government is making these improvements."
In 2010-2011, Transport Canada announced close to $11 million in funding under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program to upgrade 155 high-priority rail grade crossings in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Minister Lebel noted that International Level Crossing Awareness Day is an important occasion to draw attention to the high number of pedestrian-train collisions that happen when people trespass on railroad property. "I urge Canadians to cross a rail line only at a designated crossing. Walking along a rail line is dangerous and illegal. Tracks are not a place to play. By the time a locomotive engineer notices a trespasser and stops the train, it is too late," he added.
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 many sites every year. Under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program, eligible railway crossings are upgraded, relocated or closed, based on 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 deaths, injuries and damages caused by highway-railway crossing collisions and train-pedestrian incidents.
Backgrounders on railway crossing facts and tips, and funded projects are attached.
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