A CN locomotive moves in the railway yard in Dartmouth, N.S. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. Transport Canada says it will put $10.9 million into improving more than 400 rail crossings.The March federal budget earmarked $143 million over three years to enhance rail safety and the transportation of dangerous goods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
April 27, 2016 - 8:36 AM
OTTAWA - Transport Canada says it will put $10.9 million into improving more than 400 rail crossings.
The March federal budget earmarked $143 million over three years to enhance rail safety and the transportation of dangerous goods.
The department's grade crossing improvement program uses factors such as traffic volume and accident history to select crossings for upgrades
The number of crossing collisions has declined sharply since 1980, falling to 164 in 2015 from more than 800 in 1980.
In 2015, 47 people were killed and 36 suffered serious injuries from crossing collisions and trespassing on railway property.
There are about 37,000 rail crossings in Canada, says Operation Lifesaver, a public-private partnership that promotes awareness of safety issues around crossings.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016