June 1, 2017, Saint-Lambert, Quebec, Transport Canada

The Government of Canada is continuing its investment of the Rail Safety Improvement Program to keep Canadians safe and our railway system functioning at its best. This year’s funding announcement highlights a commitment in our communities to improve rail safety across Canada.

Alexandra Mendès, Member of Parliament for Brossard – Saint-Lambert, and Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil – Charles-LeMoyne, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, that two local infrastructure projects have been granted $528,343.50 in total federal funding through the Rail Safety Improvement Program.

As such, the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) will benefit from $402,143.50 in funding to improve the safety of the grade crossing on Saint-Georges Street by installing pedestrian gates in all four quadrants, two of which are located in Saint-Lambert and two in Longueuil. The City of Longueuil will also receive $126,200 in assistance to widen the crossing area at the level of the railway tracks.

Transport Canada’s Rail Safety Improvement Program is a $55 million, three-year initiative that provides federal funding, in the form of grants or contributions. The program’s objective is to improve rail safety, contribute to the reduction of injuries and fatalities, and increase public confidence in the Canada’s rail transportation system. Applications are now being accepted for new projects beginning in 2018-2019.

Citations

With 44,000 kilometres of track, we all need to share the responsibility of a safe railway system in Canada. The Rail Safety Improvement Program is an essential component of our commitment to improving rail safety by collaborating with railway companies, local communities and road authorities.

The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Your Content Goes Here

Our government recognises the importance of rail safety in our communities. These projects are aimed at preventing, or at least mitigating the risk of railway-related injuries and fatalities in Canada. Today’s announcement confirms our government’s commitment to a safe railway system. This funding will ensure that concrete improvements are made to the railway infrastructure in our region, including here in Brossard – Saint-Lambert.

Alexandra Mendès, Member of Parliament for Brossard – Saint-Lambert

Almost half of all railway-related deaths and injuries result from accidents at crossings. I am proud that this support from our government will allow CN and the City of Longueuil to move forward with their projects and make the Saint-Georges Street grade crossing safer for our region’s pedestrians and cyclists.

Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil – Charles-LeMoyne

Safety is at the heart of our day-to-day activities, in our railway yards as well as in every community where we operate. CN is proud to partner with Transport Canada and the cities of Longueuil and Saint-Lambert on this project to install pedestrian gates at the level crossing on Saint-Georges Street.

Gilles Legault, Senior Counsel, Global Legal Affairs, CN

We welcome this major investment by the Government of Canada, which will allow us to carry out our project for the benefit of the entire population. We also want to thank CN, whose involvement shows its willingness to work with local partners. Not only will this project improve safety in the sector, it will also promote active transportation. This is excellent news for the community as a whole.

Colette Éthier, Municipal Councillor for the City of Longueuil, LeMoyne district

Information :

Stav Tsamitros
Office of Alexandra Mendès
Member of Parliament for Brossard – Saint-Lambert
450-466-7953

Catherine Brigden
Office of Sherry Romanado
Member of Parliament for Longueuil – Charles-LeMoyne
450-671-1222

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

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Photo cutline (from left to right): Constable Yian Montpetit-Douville, CN Police Service, Alexandra Mendès, Member of Parliament for Brossard – Saint-Lambert, Gilles B. Legault, Senior Counsel, Global Legal Affairs, CN, Colette Éthier, Municipal Councillor for the City of Longueuil, Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil – Charles-LeMoyne, and Alain Dépatie, Mayor of the City of Saint-Lambert.