RAILWAY SAFETY IN CANADA

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

IRSC Dublin, Ireland October, 2006

Background

Most communities in Canada grew up around the railway tracks

Municipal governments have growing influence

As population and transportation needs have grown, there have been more conflicts between people and trains

Both rural and urban municipalities are affected

Common Interests

Both Need:1. Safety Commitment2. Reduced pollution3. Reduced congestion4. Efficient land use5. Minimal costs6. Good transportation

systems

Proximity Problems

1. Noise, vibration, vegetation control2. Safety and Dangerous Goods3. Mitigation costs – who pays?4. Construction and maintenance

responsibility5. Crossing safety and congestion6. Urban corridors – grade separations, land

banking, prime urban land7. Integrity and expansion capacity of rail

facilities

Proximity context Result of community, economic growth,

24/7 rail network operations Both contribute to the problems – land use

planning and development; business expansion, changes in rail operations

Community Outreach Projects

1. Railway – Community Proximity Initiative

2. Dangerous Goods – Transportation Community Awareness and

Emergency Response (TransCAER®)

1. Federation of Canadian Municipalities/RAC Proximity Initiative:

Industry and municipalities have been developing voluntary approaches

RAC/FCM signed Memorandum of Understanding in 2003

Established steering committee, three working groups, equal representation

MOU also supported by Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA)

Steering Committee Members

Co-chair Cynthia Lulham, Westmount, Que.

Co-chair John Dalzell, CN Municipal governments – Vancouver,

Edmonton, Blackfalds, AB; Toronto, Moncton, FCM

Rail industry – CN, CPR, short lines, RAC and passenger

Transport Canada and CTA are observers

Communications Committee

Purpose: Increase awareness and build understanding by key audiences

Developed communications plan Produced Good Neighbours video; on-

going FCM Conference participation; case studies; annual progress reports

Created continually-evolving Internet site www.proximityissues.ca

Proximity Issues Website

Website Objective

One Stop Shop for Canadian public, railways, municipal governments and other stakeholders for proximity contacts and reference materials

Enables better communication between all involved parties

Helps concerned individuals: Know who to contact Find out what information is available Raise awareness of emerging issues Assist in dispute resolution Provide proximity guidelines

Website Statistics (monthly)

Website launched in June 2004

Year Hits Page Views

2006 22000 8300

2005 19700 6400

2004 17700 5300

Dispute Resolution Committee

Purpose: Develop industry-wide protocol and a process for parties to address current concerns or disputes

Encourages resolution at local level before escalation to third-party intervention

Determines available options, best practices for dispute resolution including mediation, etc.

Many new Community Advisory Panels (CAP) established using protocol to resolve problems

Case Study: Gatineau, Que.

Short line acquired lines north of Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers

Restructured operations, began re-building the business

Key customers are three paper mills:

Bowater Domtar E.B. Eddy Papier Masson

Nearby residents complained of switching/ shunting noise, idling locomotives, train whistles at crossings

City asked railway to relocate operations

Vandalism, arson, trespassing, property damage

Case Study: Gatineau, Que.

Several meetings, but unproductive

Railway built security fences, hired guards

Residents felt train whistling for crossings, required by provincial law, was excessive

Conflict escalated

Case Study: Gatineau, Que.

Approached MTQ who agreed to modify crossings Municipality absorbed cost, with assistance from

Québec government and technical assistance from SL Bowater allowed railway to park idling locomotives at

paper mill in winter, away from residences Alleviated, but didn’t eliminate, noise of yard

operations Reduced train whistling at crossings through upgrade

Parties recognized need to work together through CAP:

Case Study: Conclusions

Parties gained a common understanding of each other’s issues and positions - essential to any dispute resolution

Developed trust and respect for each other Learned how to prevent a recurrence Developed a good working relationship - local Reality – Not all problems solved to everyone’s

satisfaction Avoid unnecessary legal costs bad press

Guidelines Committee

Purpose: Gain a common understanding of current and potential issues, produce development guidelines and best practices to: Raise awareness about railway/municipal

proximity and safety issues Provide model guidelines & policies for

Land use (private, municipal and railway) Safety, grade crossings, trespassing, DG, noise, etc.

Inform & influence railway & municipal practices

Inform and influence federal and provincial government policies, guidelines and regulations

Land Use Planning

Guidelines – Consulting Work

Terms of Reference established Earth Tech Canada and Jade Acoustics selected Consulting work managed by the Committee Consulting work divided into 3 phases:

Phase 1 looked at new land development Phase 2 looked at new or expanded rail

facilities and crossing related issues Phase 3 summary and final recommendations

Land Use Guidelines Project

Guideline Project – Findings

No consistent consultation protocols or land use appeal mechanisms

Municipal procedures vary nationally Need for increased integration of rail

transportation issues in land use planning Railway legislative / operating

environment could be better understood by non-railway stakeholders

Railways could be more sensitive to community concerns

Guidelines Project – Findings

Guidelines needed to ensure new developments: Reduce trespass potential Minimize effects of noise and vibration Provide appropriate protective buffers /

berms Do not negatively alter drainage patterns

Report outlines recommended specifications and standards

Technology

Technology

Technology

Canada Transportation Act

New legislation under CTA will: Complement MOU framework Require due diligence by parties to resolve

disputes before CTA gets involved CTA guidelines to focus on required

proximity elements and principles, not standards or thresholds

Promote protocols and recommended practices developed under MOU

Next steps

Renew MOU for another 3 years Promote national adoption and

implementation of land use guidelines Harmonize activities with new legislation Expand outreach and education strategies

2. TransCAER®

Developed, implemented and managed by the Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association

Chemical producers and transporters “do the right thing” for public safety

6 Codes of Practice The Transportation Code of Practice

includes TransCAER®

TransCAER®

A community outreach program that involves the public, municipal officials and first responders

Railways initiate and deliver these community outreach programs

Chemical Shippers often involved RAC DG Team leads in program

delivery

TransCAER®

Presentations

Demonstrations

Incident Simulations

TransCAER®

Railways speak about Types and quantities of

dangerous goods shipped (including documents)

Railcar construction Track structure and signal

systems Rail operations safety Emergency response capabilities

Demonstration Tank Cars

Benefits

Communities Raised awareness of rail operations Pre-planning for emergencies Enhanced communications Develop trust, contacts with railways

Railways Spreading the message of safety Developing partnerships Opportunity to promote virtues of rail

Railway Safety in Canada Community Outreach

Thank you!