Changes coming to Moncton rail crossings years after fatal accident

The federal government will spend$1million on rail safety upgrades in Moncton, including implementing changes to a downtown crossing recommended aftera man was killed by a train.

Marc Garneau, the federal minister of transportation, announced the spending at Moncton's Via Rail station Tuesday.

"As I've said many times before, rail safety is my top priority," Garneau said.

The money for the Moncton work is part of $16.5 millionthe federal government announced it will spend on 136 projects across the country under theRail Safety Improvement Programin 2019-20.

The 11 Monctonupgrades represent the bulk of the $1.4 million the federal government plans to spend in New Brunswick.

A list provided by the federal government indicates eight of the Moncton projects will deal with changes to grade crossings, while other changes are meant to reduce unauthorized access to the rail line.

The intersection of Robinson Street and the CN rail line downtown will be changed.

That's whereStevenHareldied when he was struck by a CN trainin July 2016.The 29-year-old was on his way home when hismotorized wheelchair became stuck in the gravel at the edge of the rail crossing.

An investigation estimated Harelmay have been stuck for50 minutes before he was killed.

Garneau said he was familiar with the "very tragic accident" as he announced the federal spending.

An 18-month investigation by the Transportation Safety Board of Canadasuggestedimproved lighting, additionalvisual and audio cues, or making the sidewalk intersect the tracks at a 90-degree angleto minimize the risk of getting stuck.

The minister said the work will include those measures.

The work at that intersection is expected to cost $188,000. The federal government will pay $120,400and the municipal government will also provide funds.

City staff say design work on the upgrades is underway.The upgrades are expected to be carried out over the coming year.

Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said she's "thrilled" about the changes to the crossings.

The city upgraded several downtown level crossings last year,but the crossing where Harel was struck has not been done.

The federal government announced $20 million in railway safety spending under the program in August 2018, though none of it was earmarked for New Brunswick.

Monctondidn't apply for funding under the program because it was awaiting the results of the safety board investigation. The report was issued in February 2018, after the August 2017 deadline to apply for funding.

Last August, the city said it would seek funds as part of the next round of program spending.

Diane Harel, Steven Harel's mother, previously told CBC she was disappointed the city didn't seek funding to upgrade the crossing earlier.

The family has filed a lawsuit against the city, CN and others.

The federal spending in Moncton will be used for crossings on Robinson Street, Elmwood Drive, Church Street, Victoria Street, Queen Street, Lutz Street, St. George Street, Mill Road and near Main Street.

Other projects in New Brunswick include lighting changes inGrand Bay-Westfield andMemramcook, and crossing resurfacing near Westcock Hill in the Sackville area, as well as changes at several grade crossings inSaint John.

The federal announcement also follows an April 4 Via Rail derailment northwest of Moncton.No one was injured when two cars left the track.

The safety board sent broken pieces of rail from the site of the derailment to its lab for analysis.

A spokesperson for the board said there was no further update on the investigation Tuesday.