Apply for Rail Safety Improvement Program-Infrastructure, Technology and Research (RSIP-ITR) funding

The ITR component of the Rail Safety Improvement Program (RSIP) funds rail safety improvements that support measures to improve public safety at rail property and rail lines (both federal and provincial).

Funding is also available for research as well as testing and development of technologies that can enhance the safety of rail lines (both federal and provincial).

Eligibility for funding

Eligible recipients include:

• Provinces, territories, municipalities, and local governments
• Road and transit authorities
• Crown Corporations
• For-profit and not-for-profit organizations (including academia)
• Indigenous groups, communities and organizations
• Individuals/Private landowners

Eligible projects

Your project is eligible for this funding if it aims to:

• Address rail line safety issues
• Reduce the number of injuries and deaths from accidents along rail lines and on rail property

For example, we will consider these types of projects:

• Safety improvements on rail property and along rail lines, including:
  • Replacing incandescent lights with light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
  • Installing flashing lights, bells, and/or gates
  • Separating railway crossing grades
• Use of innovative technologies, including:
  • Detection technologies:
    • Acoustic train sensors
    • Positive train control technologies
    • Wheel-impact load detectors
    • Kinetic energy captures
  • Onboard data recorders, including wireless status recorders for active warning systems
  • Communications protocols (for example, Wi-Fi)
  • Connected rail
• Research related to:
  • restricting pedestrian access
  • blocked crossings
• Closures of crossings

For more examples, see the Applicant's Guide.

Funding information

Depending on the nature of your project, grants and contributions are available on an annual or multi-year basis.

The percentage of federal funding to be provided under RSIP will be based on the type of recipient, as follows:

• Via Rail and for-profit organizations: up to 50% of total eligible expenditures for any one project.
• All other recipients (including shortlines and private landowners): up to 80 % of total eligible expenditures for any one completed project when Via Rail or a for-profit organization (not including shortlines) did not contribute to the project.

For grade crossing closures, the maximum grant amount payable is:

• $35,000 for a public crossing
• $10,000 for a private crossing 

For all other categories,

• The maximum contribution amount payable per recipient shall not exceed $10,000,000 per fiscal year^{Footnote *}

The maximum level of total government funding (municipal, provincial, territorial and federal) should not exceed 100% of total eligible expenditures.

What you need to know before you start

• Your application must be complete, accurate, and comprehensive.
• Read the Applicant's Guide in full before you apply.

How to apply

We are not accepting any applications for funding at this time.

To facilitate a more efficient and effective application process, Transport Canada has introduced a new online application portal to be used for all applications.

All applications should be submitted through the online application portal. Please reference the Applicant's Guide for detailed instructions on portal functionality and GCKey registration. If the portal cannot be used for any reason or if you have any questions or concerns you may contact us at tc.rsipitr-pasfitr.tc@tc.gc.ca and we will provide an alternate application option, and/or address any concerns.