No. P08/99
For release April 15, 1999
IMPROVED SAFETY AT A RAILWAY CROSSING
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
OTTAWA - David Anderson, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and MP (Victoria),
on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced that the federal
government will provide $98,000 in assistance to improve safety at a railway crossing in
Invermere, B.C. In the past five years, Transport Canada has contributed nearly
$45 million to 472 projects across the country.
"The safety of the travelling public is a primary concern of
Transport Canada," said Mr. Anderson. "These upgrades at a strategic
location in Invermere will go a long way to help improve railway crossing safety in the
province."
Although accident rates and crossing fatalities in the province have reached their
lowest levels in 10 years, improving safety at crossings is one of Transport
Canada's top priorities, as accidents at crossings account for half of the
railway-related deaths and injuries each year.
Under a Transport Canada 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. Transport Canada
will finance 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 the risk at railway
crossings," said Mr. Collenette. "Even those locations equipped with
automated warning devices such as bells and gates demand alert and
prudent driving, and caution.
"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 by 50 per cent collisions and trespassing
incidents by the year 2006."
Funding for the improvements announced today was provided for in the federal budget and
is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This initiative is an example of
how the Government of Canada is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve
Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.
A backgrounder and a list of the crossings scheduled for improvement are attached.
- 30 -
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
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BACKGROUNDER
RAILWAY CROSSINGS 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 reached their lowest
levels in 10 years, improving safety at rail crossings is one of
Transport Canadas top priorities, as accidents at crossings account for half of
the railway-related deaths and injuries each year.
There were 275 crossing accidents across Canada in 1998. These accidents resulted
in a total of 37 fatalities, 19 of which took place at protected crossings equipped
with automated signals set off by trains (such as bells and gates), 12 at unprotected
crossings (which are identified by crossbuck signs) and six at private or farm crossings.
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 between all
levels of government, railway companies and unions. The objective of Direction 2006 is to
reduce grade crossing collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.
PROVINCE |
LOCATION |
ROAD |
FEDERAL |
|
|
|
CONTRIBUTION |
British
Columbia |
Invermere |
Highway
93/95 |
$74,000 |
British
Columbia |
Invermere |
Highway
93/95 |
$24,000 |
|
|
|
$98,000 |
|