(Transport Canada issued the following press release on February 4.)
OTTAWA, Ontario –Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the Government of Canada will provide more than $2 million to improve safety at 35 railway crossings across Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed more than $75.9 million to 786 projects across Canada.
“Transport Canada is committed to continually enhancing the safety of our rail transportation system,” said Mr. Collenette. “This financial assistance will improve safety by helping to reduce crossing accidents, injuries and fatalities across the country.”
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.
“Safety is a shared responsibility,” said Mr. Collenette. “Motorists and pedestrians must exercise caution at all crossings, at all times, even those equipped with warning devices.”
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 by the year 2006.
Funding for the grade crossing improvement program was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
A backgrounder and a list of the crossings scheduled for improvement are attached.
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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 278 crossing accidents across Canada in 2001. These accidents resulted in a total of 41 fatalities and 47 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.