Guelph-Eramosa council has approved a funding arrangement that will fast track the installation of railway crossing gates at the site of a fatal collision last year.
In April, council approved an agreement with Goderich Exeter Railway Company for a funding application to help cover the cost of short arm gates and grade crossing predictors at a Speedvale Road crossing.
Typically, applications under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program take three years to be approved, but the township received word last month that the funding was approved by Transport Canada in April.
The $152,720 grant (80% of the cost) leaves 12% or about $25,000 – depending on the tendered price – to be covered by the township, with the Goderich Exeter Railway Company picking up the remaining 8%.
Public Works Manager Ken Gagnon told council last week the funding must be spent within six months of the announcement, so he recommended council make funds available immediately to cover its share.
Gagnon suggested the money come from the Public Works operational safety budget, with any deficit to be offset by the increase in miscellaneous revenue from this year’s disposal of unopened road allowances.
Council unanimously supported Gagnon’s recommendation. Councillor Roger Knapp was absent.
Background
Last March, Sridevi Chalapati, 55, and her daughter Srinayana, 9, both of Guelph, were killed after their vehicle collided with a westbound Via Rail passenger train at the Speedvale Avenue West railway crossing.
Family and friends lobbied for crossing gates since the accident, and started an on-line petition for their cause, which was signed by over 600 people. Last August council supported a report from Gagnon stating the gates were not necessary.
But Gagnon later had an on-site meeting with representatives from Transport Canada and the Goderich-Exeter Railway. After the meeting Transport Canada informed the township the crossing fulfilled two of its requirements for railway gates – train speeds that exceed 50 miles per hour (currently 70mph), and sight lines that are potentially restricted.
During the meeting, officials also noted there is a potential for an increase in train and motor vehicle traffic in the area in the next three to five years – so staff and council supported the upgrades.
