On October 11, 2024, the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport announced an investment of over $44 million to support 231 projects across the country to improve rail safety at grade crossings and along rail lines. This includes five Research and Education projects for more than $2 million.
The Research and Education component of the Rail Safety Improvement Program provides funding to support activities aimed at improving rail safety by reducing grade crossing collisions and trespassing incidents, with the ultimate goal of reducing injuries and fatalities.
|
Recipient |
Project Description |
Location of Project |
Total Federal Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Operation Lifesaver |
This project builds on the success of OL's current campaigns and programs by producing new content and materials, including new #STOPTrackTragedies videos, where people, who have been personally affected by railway crossing and trespassing incidents, share their stories with the hope of preventing future incidents. This project also includes organizing events for Rail Safety Week, working with communities that have higher rates of rail incidents, working with driver training schools to promote safe driving practices over crossings and around rails lines, delivering presentations at community events, recruiting new Rail Safety Ambassadors, and engaging with Indigenous communities. |
Across Canada |
$1,200,000.00 |
|
Canadian Safety Train Express |
This project focuses on the collection of more detailed data regarding rail incidents to better inform education and awareness activities across Western Canada. Through the development of a new app, the CSTE is working in partnership with local railways and the Province of Saskatchewan to collect data on “near misses” where an incident almost occurred, so that actions can be taken to avoid rail accidents in the future. In addition, CSTE is developing training materials for professional drivers, delivering presentations to students of all ages, working with Indigenous communities living close to tracks, attending community events, and creating new social content. |
Western Canada (MB, SK, AB, BC) |
$872,318.00 |
|
City of Moncton |
This project will use artificial intelligence video processing to complete detailed assessments of specific rail crossings known to be high risk for rail incidents and complete an analysis of the data to develop measures to improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists at the identified locations. |
NB |
$114,350.00 |
|
Big Sky Rail |
This project focuses on developing educational content and increasing awareness among large equipment operators on the need to report when railway crossing signage is knocked down or damaged as a result of their equipment. The outreach will occur through a variety of mediums including radio, pamphlets and posters circulated in nearby communities and large equipment dealerships, stickers on the crossing signage, and a social media campaign. |
SK |
$35,000.00 |
|
City of Ottawa |
This project focuses on educating road users within specific areas of the City of Ottawa on two key concerns: drivers not stopping at grade crossings; and drivers stopping beyond the stop line too close to the tracks. In partnership with Operation Lifesaver, the City of Ottawa aims to proactively address these concerns through a variety of activities including a social media campaign, presentations in schools, attending community events, Rail Safety Week blitz where new “Look. Listen. Live.” pavement markings will be unveiled on the roadway at priority crossings to remind motorists of the importance to pay attention when approaching a crossing. |
ON |
$22,902.88 |