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On May 6, Transport Canada announced it'll provide more than $1.6 million over the next three years to improve safety at 10,894 nationwide crossings.


Under a Grade Crossing Improvement Program, Transport Canada plans to fund 80 percent of the cost to install reflective materials designed to make crossings more visible to motorists and pedestrians at night. Affected crossings currently have no warning bells, lights or gates.


"Railway crossing fatalities in Canada have fallen to their lowest levels in 10 years, but we are always striving to improve safety even further," said Transport Minister David Collenette in a prepared statement.


During 2003 and 2004, Transport Canada plans to allocate $7.5 million for crossing improvements. Program funding is included in the agency's current budget (approved in February).