Rail Safety Improvement Program
Jim Eglinski, Member of Parliament for Yellowhead, is pleased to inform residents of funding being invested in rail safety within Alberta and the riding. This week, the Department of Transportation announced $3.3 million to support eighteen projects in Alberta.
The funds are part of the Rail Safety Improvement Program, which provides grant and contribution funding to improve rail safety and reduce injuries and fatalities related to rail transportation.
The announced funds will be used to:
• build fencing and other barriers to discourage trespassing on railway properties; • install flashing lights, bells, and gates at the crossings;
• install advanced train detection and crossing control system.
In Yellowhead, Canadian National Railway will receive $163,800 to upgrade a rail crossing on Range Road 73 with gates.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about rail safety in Edson.
“While I welcome the funding announcement, for years our communities in Yellowhead have experienced safety issues in which trains block crossings for unacceptable amounts of time,” stated MP Eglinski.
MP Eglinski took the opportunity to remind residents that the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has launched a consultation on rail-related regulations and is requesting the feedback of Canadians. All those interested are invited to share their views to ensure that the CTA’s rail-related regulations and guidance materials are relevant, clear and up to date. Participants can submit comments to ferroviaire-rail@otc-cta.gc.ca before the September 30, 2018 deadline.
“If residents are being excessively held up by a train at a rail crossing or have a safety concern, I am encouraging them, as well as stakeholders with a vested interest in rail safety, to make their voices heard in this consultation,” stated MP Eglinski.
More information on the announced projects can be found at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/ en/ programs-policies/programs/rail-safety-improvement-program/rsip-itr-infrastructure-projects. html