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www.tc.gc.ca
Transport Canada > Safety & Security > Rail Safety
> Grade crossings
Table of Contents
Road crossing where a road passes across a line of railway at grade
(The use of the word "responsible" shall not be interpreted as
determining liability for costs.)
Railway company (in respect of a grade crossing, a railway
company that owns or operates over the line of railway at the grade
crossing)
The railway company is responsible for:
- the part of the road surface of the grade crossing that lies
between the rails of each track, the part that lies outside the rails,
up to the ends of the railway ties, and the elevation of the railway
tracks in relation to the road;
- sightlines along the railway right of way;
- drainage along the railway right of way;
- railway crossing signs;
- grade crossing warning systems.
Road authority (in respect of a grade crossing, the road
authority that has the legal authority to open and maintain the road
that passes across the line of railway at grade)
The road authority is responsible for:
- the road approaches and those parts of the surface of the road up
to the ends of the railway ties, including the elevation of the road
in relation to the railway track;
- sightlines along the road right of way;
- drainage along the road right of way;
- traffic control devices on road approaches and stop signs at grade
crossings, including devices that interconnect with grade crossing
warning systems;
- lighting devices to illuminate trains, engines and other railway
equipment occupying grade crossings to ensure that they are clearly
visible to pedestrians and drivers of vehicles; and
- the removal of snow from the road for the safe passage of
vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and persons using assistive devices
over the grade crossing.
- Transport Canada's mission is to develop and administer policies,
regulations and services for the best transportation system for Canada
and Canadians - one that is safe and secure, efficient, affordable,
integrated and environmentally friendly.
- The Railway Safety Act gives Transport Canada responsibility to
oversee railway safety. The Act provides the regulatory framework for
railway safety, security, and some of the environmental impacts of
railway operations in Canada.
- Transport Canada has regulations, standards and programs to
oversee safety at road/railway grade crossings.
- The Agency is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that makes
decisions on a wide range of matters involving federally-regulated
modes of transportation (air, rail and marine), and has the powers,
rights and privileges of a superior court to exercise its authority.
- The Agency resolves disputes on rail crossings (including the
apportionment of costs) between federal railways and other parties who
may interact with those railways. Such parties include municipalities,
road authorities, utility companies, private landowners and nearby
residents.
- The Canadian Transportation Agency's mission is to administer
transportation legislation and Government of Canada policies to help
achieve an efficient and accessible transportation system by
education, consultation and essential regulation.
- The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is an independent
agency created to advance transportation safety through the
investigation of occurrences in the marine, pipeline, rail and air
modes of transportation. You can quickly access rail investigation
reports, recommendations and assessments of responses, statistics, and
Reflexions Magazine with the following link:
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/rail/index.asp
A proponent shall not undertake the construction or alteration of a grade
crossing unless it has first given notice of the work in accordance with the
Notice of Railway Works Regulations. For more information, consult the Notice of
Railway Works Regulations.
Funding - Safety improvements and crossing closure
Other related information