No. H060/00
For release August 15, 2000

IMPROVED SAFETY 
AT RAILWAY CROSSINGS ACROSS CANADA

OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the federal government will provide $6,408,320 to improve safety at 51 railway crossings across Canada. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed $50.6 million to 562 projects across Canada.

"Although accident rates and crossing fatalities across Canada have reached their lowest levels in ten years, accidents at railway crossings resulted in 38 fatalities and 42 injuries across the country last year," said Mr. Collenette. "This financial assistance will help communities and railways improve the safety of railway crossings in Canada."

Under Transport Canada’s crossing improvement program, eligible railway crossings will be either upgraded, relocated or closed. Improvements may include the installation of flashing lights and gates, the addition of gates or extra lights to existing systems, the interconnection of crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, the modification of operating circuits, or the addition of new circuits or timing devices. The department will finance up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the improvements. The balance of funding will be provided by the railways, municipalities or provinces.

"Motorists and pedestrians can take action to reduce risks at railway crossings," said Mr. Collenette. "Even crossings equipped with automated warning devices — such as bells and gates — demand caution and prudent driving."

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 towards a goal of reducing collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.

A backgrounder and a list of the crossings scheduled for improvement are attached.

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Contact: 

Anthony Polci
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa 
(613) 991-0700

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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