Rail Safety Improvement Program - Applicant Guide for Grade Crossing Closure

• Full legal name: Enter the full legal name of the person or organization applying. For example, if you’re applying on behalf of the City of Ottawa, the full legal name would be “City of Ottawa”.
• Street address: Enter the street address for the person or organization applying. For example, this could be your property’s address (for private landowners) or your organization’s main address (for companies) or City Hall address (for municipalities).
• City, town, or community: Enter the city, town, or community where you or your organization are located.
• Province or territory: Select the province or territory where you or your organization are located.
• Postal code: Enter your or your organization’s postal code. Don’t include spaces (e.g. A1A1A1).
• Applicant type: Use the drop-down menu to select the type of applicant.

You must include at least two contacts, unless you’re applying as an individual.

• Primary contact: The Primary Contact is responsible for any questions or concerns regarding this project proposal. In the case that the applicant is an individual, the primary contact is required to be authorized to confirm the accuracy of the application information and to possess financial signing authority.
• Secondary contact: The secondary contact should be someone with financial signing authority for you or your organization. They will need to attest that the information in the application is accurate and valid.
• First name: Enter each contact’s first name.
• Last name: Enter each contact’s last name.
• Job title: Enter each contact’s job title.
• Phone number: Enter each contact’s 10-digit phone number (numbers only, no spaces or symbols). Example: 6135551234
• Email address: Enter each contact’s e-mail. For example: name@example.com. Make sure the addresses are valid and do not include typos.
• Preferred language of communication: Choose each contact’s preferred language. We will use this language to communicate with them.

• Has the grade crossing been in existence for use for at least three years directly before the date of this application? In other words, 2023 to 2026. Select yes or no.
• Is this grade crossing on a rail line of a federally or provincially regulated railway? Select yes or no.
• As which type of authority do you have the right to the existing crossing, as defined in Section 4 of the Railway Safety Act? Select the option that applies to you:
  • A road authority (a public authority with legal authority to open and maintain roads, as defined in Section 4 of the Railway Safety Act)
  • A private authority (like a landowner, farmer, or someone who has the right to a railway crossing through their property, as recognized by the Grade Crossings Regulations)
  • Neither (if the other options don’t apply)
• Will you submit evidence confirming that the railway crossing has been permanently closed? Select yes or no.

• Project Title: Provide a short and clear project title (maximum 120 characters). The title should make it easy to understand what the project is about at a glance. Avoid overly technical language or long descriptions. Please use the following format: Legal name - Project – Province. Example: ABC Rail – 123 Crossing Closure - Ontario.
• Project description: Provide a detailed description of the grade crossing closure project (maximum 2,000 characters).
• Is your grade crossing public or private? A public rail crossing is on a road maintained by a public authority (like a government) for public use, while a private rail crossing is on a road owned and used by a private party for non-public access to their property. Select either public or private.
• Describe how the closure of your grade crossing will improve safety and provide any other supplementary information: Describe what impact the closure would have on safety (maximum 2,000 characters).
• Have the relevant authorities (e.g. rail or road authority) been consulted about the work? Please describe.
• Total project cost: Enter the total project cost in Canadian dollars.
• Start date: Enter the planned project start date: Year, Month, Day.
• End date: Enter the planned project end date: Year, Month, Day.

• TC Number: Enter the Transport Canada identification number for the crossing. You can find this information in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal. If your crossing is not in the inventory, enter 0.
• Road name: Enter the full legal road name that intersects the railway. Include route numbers or local designations, if applicable. Example: Main Street, Hwy 17.
• Latitude: Enter the latitude for the project. You can find this information on the Rail Network and Crossings map page or in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal.
• Longitude: Enter the longitude for the project. You can find this information on the Rail Network and Crossings map page or in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal.
• Mile marker: Enter the mile marker closest to the project location. This identifies the crossing location along the railway line. You can find this information on the Rail Network and Crossings map page or in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal.
• Rail subdivision: Enter the name of the rail subdivision of the mile marker. You can find this information on the Rail Network and Crossings map page or in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal.
• Rail authority name: Enter the name of the rail authority responsible for the rail line.
• City, town, or community: Enter the nearest city, town, or community where the project is located.
• Province or Territory: Select the province or territory where the project is located.

• Vehicles crossing daily: Enter the average number of road vehicles using the crossing each day.
• Daily trains: Enter the average number of train movements per day over a one-year period. You can find this data in the Grade Crossings Inventory on the Open Government Portal.

In each of the following four categories, please select all risk factors that apply to your crossing that may present a risk. If none apply, select “none”.

1. Human behavior: Examples include but are not limited to:
   • high pedestrian traffic area: For example, municipal count shows a certain number of pedestrians per day, including peak-hour school groups
   • dangerous driving behaviors: For example, police issued a number of speeding tickets at the crossing in the past 6 months; reports of vehicles driving around lowered gates
   • trespassing: For example, railway logs show trespassing incidents in 2024, with photos of people crossing outside marked paths
   • cyclist traffic: For example, bicycle count survey indicates a certain number of cyclists daily; no dedicated lanes, creating conflicts with vehicles and trains
   • elderly people or children frequently cross: For example, elementary school is located a certain distance away; majority of pedestrians are children; Senior residence nearby contributes to vulnerable users
2. Surrounding conditions: Examples include but are not limited to:
   • poor road approach condition: For example, roadway surface audit shows potholes and rutting within a number of meters of the crossing, increasing stopping distance
   • poor track condition: For example, inspection report notes uneven track surface causing vehicles to bottom out and delay clearing the crossing
   • limited sightlines: For example, engineering study shows sight distance is a certain number of meters, below the standard number of meters required; vegetation and curve obstruct views
   • confusing signage: For example, photos show multiple overlapping signs (speed, yield, crossing), with community complaints of unclear driver expectations
   • lack of pedestrian infrastructure: For example, no sidewalks or marked crossings; pedestrians walk directly on gravel shoulder beside tracks
   • inadequate lighting: For example, nighttime assessment found luminance levels below municipal standard; crossing unlit in both directions
   • nearby industrial traffic: For example, traffic study shows a certain percentage of daily traffic are transport trucks from nearby quarry; long vehicle clearance times recorded
   • access to parks, beaches or cultural areas: For example, municipal planning report indicates crossing is main route to local beach, with sharp seasonal spikes in pedestrian and cyclist use
3. Environmental factors: Examples include but are not limited to:
   • fog, snow, or ice (visibility/traction): For example, Environment Canada weather station data shows a certain number of days per year of dense fog; municipal records cite multiple winter collisions from icy approaches
   • flooding or water pooling: For example, Public Works report documents spring flooding at the crossing, with photos showing specific measurements of centimeters of water pooling that obscures track visibility
   • overgrown vegetation: For example, site inspection photos show brush within a certain distance of track obstructing driver line of sight; municipal maintenance log notes repeated complaints
4. Urban planning: Examples include but are not limited to:
   • recent or planned development: For example, approved subdivision plan shows new housing units within a specific distance of a crossing, expected to double daily traffic volumes
   • no alternative route for pedestrian or cyclists: For example, municipal active-transportation map confirms no sidewalks, overpasses, or trails nearby; pedestrians and cyclists must share the vehicle lanes at the crossing
   • proximity to schools, libraries, or other community infrastructure: For example, crossing is a certain distance from an elementary school or public library.

For all identified factors, please provide evidence for each factor that clearly describes how it contributes to the overall risk. Provide clear evidence for every risk factor. Examples include:

• traffic counts
• engineering studies
• police reports
• inspection reports
• municipal studies
• photographs
• maintenance records

• Will you send any supporting documents (optional) by email after submitting this application? Select yes or no.
• If yes: List all documents you will email, and when you expect to send them.