No. P10/99
For release June 24, 1999

IMPROVED SAFETY AT SIX RAILWAY
CROSSINGS 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 $848,100 in assistance to improve safety at six railway crossings in British Columbia. In the past six years, Transport Canada has contributed some $48 million to 499 projects across the country.

"The safety of the travelling public is a primary concern of Transport Canada," said Mr. Anderson. "These upgrades at strategic locations in British Columbia will go a long way to help improve railway crossing safety in the province."

Although accident rates and crossing fatalities in Canada 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 collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent 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.

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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.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. 

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 Canada's 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 among 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.