Brockville -  Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, is pleased to announce on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, that Canada's New Government will provide more than $560,000 for three safety improvement projects at railway crossings near Smiths Falls and in Johnstown.

In all the government is providing $4.1 million for 32 safety improvement projects at railway crossings across Ontario and $10.4 million for 103 safety improvement projects at crossings across Canada.

"We continue to be concerned about public safety at railway crossings," says Brown. "These improvements will add to those that we announced last summer. Those projects are already underway."

Under Transport Canada's Grade Crossing Improvement Program, eligible railway crossings are either upgraded, relocated or closed. Improvements may include installing flashing lights and gates, adding gates or extra lights to existing systems, linking crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, modifying operating circuits, or adding new circuits or timing devices. The department finances up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the improvements, with the balance provided by the railways, municipalities or provinces and territories.

"Although accident rates and crossing fatalities have reached their lowest levels in 10 years, improving safety at crossings is a priority for Canada's New Government," says Minister Cannon. "This funding will allow us to continue to work with rail companies and communities to improve the safety of rail crossings for motorists and pedestrians throughout Canada."

Transport Canada supports other initiatives to improve safety at railway crossings, such as Operation Lifesaver, a public education program of the Railway Association of Canada that has promoted safety at railway crossings since 1981.