MANNVILLE — Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, today announced that the Government of Canada is investing $156,000 for high-priority rail safety projects throughout the constituency. 
This new funding under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP) will primarily be used to replace existing incandescent lights with light-emitting diode (LED) signals at 27 rail crossings in Vegreville-Wainwright. This will have an immediate positive impact on rail safety. 

“Canada maintains one of the safest rail transportation systems in the world as a result of shared efforts between numerous partners, including governments, rail companies and communities,” said Benoit, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport). “These are life-saving projects that will improve the safety and efficiency* of railway crossings in our region.”

Benoit explains that a study sponsored by Transport Canada, major Canadian railways, and several provincial authorities examined existing light emitting diode (LED) technology and produced a recommended standard for the use of LEDs to replace incandescent lights currently used as warning signals at highway-railway grade crossings. The result will be safer, more effective signals that are cheaper to install and maintain than those currently in use.  LED technology is about three times as efficient in producing light from electricity than incandescent technology, and offers substantial advantages in both energy efficiency and light intensity. LEDs also last considerably longer than incandescent bulbs – at least one million hours, compared to an average of 5,000 hours for incandescent lights – and are impervious to shocks.
Crossing collisions have dropped significantly in recent years, thanks in part to Transport Canada’s collaboration with the rail industry, police, unions, and many other public organizations and community groups. For example, according to the Transportation Safety Board, the number of crossing collisions in Canada decreased by 4 per cent in 2010 from the previous year and by 21 per cent compared to the previous five-year average (2005-2009).
The Government of Canada continues to work closely with railway companies and communities across Canada to identify grade crossings that require safety improvements. Through the GCIP, the government funds up to 80 per cent of safety enhancement costs at grade crossing sites across the country.

Background
Traffic stop lights and highway-railway grade crossing signals serve the same function in stopping traffic, but the technology behind each is very different. While both use incandescent lights, grade crossing signals are required to be able to run from a battery backup for a considerable length of time in case of a power outage. This means that to conserve power, railway lights use only 18 watt bulbs instead of the 150 watt bulbs used in traffic lights. To get sufficient light intensity, mirrors and lenses are used to create a focussed beam directed at the motorist. This requires not only a precise alignment of the light bulbs, but a substantial structure to hold them firmly in place.
LED technology is about three times as efficient in producing light from electricity than incandescent technology, and offers substantial advantages in both energy efficiency and light intensity. LEDs also last considerably longer than incandescent bulbs – at least one million hours, compared to an average of 5,000 hours for incandescent lights – and are impervious to shocks.

There are currently about 20,000 LED lights in use at grade crossings across the U.S. Transport Canada has restricted the use of LED signal lights in Canada until a suitable, justifiable standard could be developed.

GRADE CROSSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Projects funded under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP) range in scope and complexity from a simple electronic improvement to an existing system to installation of a full signal system with flashing lights, bells and gates. Total annual funding for the GCIP has increased from $7 million in 2008-09 to $11 million in 2009-10 and will be increasing to over $12 million starting in 2011-12.
The additional funding for the LED units has been provided because these lights have been identified as the new Canadian standard for lighting at grade crossings.
LED replacement funding will be invested as follows: