Minister Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge-North Dumfries, announced that the Government of Canada is providing over $670,000 in new funding towards the Blenheim Road and Bishop Street railway crossings in Cambridge, which will result in improved community safety.

“With this new funding, Canada’s Conservative government is increasing its commitment to improving local infrastructure, like rail crossings, while making Cambridge safer” said Minister Goodyear. “Each day countless residents drive, walk, or cycle over these two crossways. The new investments will go a long way toward enhancing community safety.”

This year, the Government of Canada is providing almost $14 million in new funding for the Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP). The GCIP supports projects to upgrade railway crossings and improve safety where road and track meet.  The crossing at Blenheim Road will receive $215,840 to upgrade warning signals by adding gates and LED flashing lights, while the Bishop Street railway crossing will receive $454,890 towards installing a crossing warning system consisting of flashing light signals, bells, gates and a cantilever.

Transport Canada works closely with railway companies and communities to identify grade crossings that require safety improvements. Through the GCIP, eligible railway crossings are upgraded, relocated or closed, based on factors such as traffic volume and accident history. Improvements may include installing flashing lights and gates, linking crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, or adding new circuits or timing devices. Transport Canada finances up to 80 per cent of the total cost of grade crossing improvements, with the balance provided by the railways and road authorities.

The Government of Canada also supports other initiatives to improve safety at railway crossings. For example, Operation Lifesaver is a national public education program to reduce the needless loss of life, injuries and damages caused by highway-railway crossing collisions and train-pedestrian incidents. This program is supported jointly by Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada.