New round of funding for Federal Government program will help towards rail safety initiatives across Canada

More Rail Safety measures such as these in Port Edward
are on the way with increased funding
announced today by theFederal Government

The Federal Government is expanding on a current funding program to help communities improve safety along rail lines across the country, with the announcement today of additional opportunities through the Rail Safety Improvement program.

An initiative that will see more than 21 million dollars in additional funding put in place, part of an investment into 135 initiatives across the nation that will support a wide range of safety measures which include:

A wide range of eligible grade crossing safety improvements, small infrastructure projects such as fencing, pedestrian crossings and overpasses, as well as implementation and research into new safety technologies.

The program will build on the work of the last three years, which have seen a number or projects taken on towards rail safety, among them work in the Port Edward area on level crossing locations in the District.

Today's announcement,   which was introduced by the Minister noted of the government's ongoing commitment towards areas of rail safety.

“Investing in rail safety is one of our commitments to keeping Canada’s communities safe. Since its inception, the Rail Safety Improvement Program has provided more than $85 million in funding to enhance rail safety. We will continue to invest in projects that keep Canadians safe, and that also contribute to the economic recovery during this challenging time”

You can learn more details about the 2021-2022 funding program here.

The increased focus on rail safety comes as the Transport Committee of the House of Commons prepares to hold hearings in the near future towards concerns from communities over increased safety risks from expanding rail traffic.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach has been among those MP's advocating for their constituents on the topic, with the MP to host a Northwest Town Hall on the topic tonight starting at 7PM.

More notes of Railway issues can be explored from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.