Brockville - Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville today announced on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, that the Government of Canada will provide more than $600,000 to improve safety at railway crossings in Brockville.

"The new government is concerned about the lives of ordinary Canadians and their safety," says Mr. Brown. "I am pleased to be here today to announce that we are spending this money in Brockville."

"Whether in the city or in rural areas, where rail tracks and roads meet, there is a potential for accidents. The projects that receive funding today will make these intersections safer," says Minister Cannon. "Improving safety at these crossings will help to enhance the quality of life of our citizens. It also continues our partnerships with rail companies and communities to make rail crossings safer for motorists and pedestrians throughout Canada."

"Most people in Brockville and those visiting the city cross railway tracks here every day," says Mr. Brown. "It becomes second nature and an activity with which we become comfortable, almost complacent.

"But railway crossings are dangerous places. They are however, places where we can manage the risk with safety equipment and education."

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. Up to 80 per cent of the total cost of the improvements is financed by Transport Canada, with the balance provided by the railways, municipalities or provinces and territories.

Transport Canada supports two other initiatives to improve safety at railway crossings: Operation Lifesaver, a public education program of the Railway Association of Canada that has promoted safety at railway crossings since 1981; and Direction 2006, a partnership of governments, railway companies and their unions working to reduce collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent from the 1995 level by the year 2006.