No. H084/01
For release June 28, 2001

IMPROVED SAFETY AT
SIX RAILWAY CROSSINGS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

OTTAWA — David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide $879,620 in assistance to improve safety at six railway crossings in British Columbia. Since 1994, Transport Canada has contributed $5.3 million to 77 projects in British Columbia.

"Although accident rates and crossing fatalities across Canada have decreased over the last 10 years, there is still work to be done," said Mr. Anderson. "This financial assistance will help improve railway crossing safety in the province."

Under Transport Canada's crossing improvement program, eligible railway crossings are 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. Transport Canada finances up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the improvements. The balance of funding will be provided by the railways, the municipalities or the provincial government.

"Motorists and pedestrians can also take action to reduce risks at railway crossings," said Mr. Collenette. "Even those locations 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.

Funding for this project 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.

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Contact:

Rod Nelson,
Communications, Vancouver,
(604) 666-1675

Transport Canada is online at http://www.tc.gc.ca/. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at  apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.

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BACKGROUNDER

RAILWAY CROSSING FACTS

Transport Canada has a permanent safety inspection program to monitor railway crossings, to ensure standards are met 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 rail crossing safety 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 ten 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 261 crossing accidents across Canada in 2000. These accidents resulted in a total of 33 fatalities, and 33 injuries.

Passenger trains travel up to 160 km/h and freight trains 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 to reduce grade crossing collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.

June 2001

The list of crossings in British Columbia that are scheduled for improvement