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6/21/2021
Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra last week announced the publication of proposed amendments to Grade Crossings Regulations in the Canada Gazette for a 30-day public comment period.
The proposed amendments will ensure that the regulations are more effective in focusing the efforts of railroads, public road authorities and private crossing owners on grade crossings that present the greatest risks to community safety, Transport Canada officials said in a press release.
Initially, the regulations called for a Nov. 28, 2021, deadline to comply with the requirements for existing public and private crossings. But after receiving input from stakeholder groups, Transport Canada is proposing to amend the deadline to account for the economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, while still preserving its fundamental commitment to strengthen rail safety in Canada.
The proposed amendments establish new compliance deadlines to meet the requirements of the regulations based on the various levels of risks posed by crossings. This includes:• a one-year extension for existing public crossings that present a higher risk; • a three-year extension for all remaining public and all private crossings; and• an exclusion from the construction and maintenance requirements for very low-risk crossings (such as field-to-field crossings with minimal train traffic).