Februrary 10, 2013 Transport Canada Rail Safety Branch 427 Laurier Street West, Ottawa, Ontario K1A

0N5 Dear Transport Canada,

RE: MISSING RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNAGE IN WINNIPEG

I am writing this letter to request your assistance in seeing a signing deficiency in Winnipeg corrected. The issue that I wish to bring to your attention is the widespread absence or misuse of many of Winnipeg's advance railway crossing signs. These signs (pictured below) are important to provide notice to drivers of upcoming crossings and pose as a safety hazard when missing or used incorrectly.

WA18

WA19(R)

WA20(R)

Many of the locations where these signs are missing are on major (regional) roads and often involve busy rail lines such as the CNR mainline. Many of these signs have not gone missing recently, but have been absent for several years. Recently, the city has done some sign changes for railway crossings, but rather than replace missing signs, they have instead changed proper signs out with the wrong signs. Below are three crossings that I wish to use as examples to give you an indication of the problems I'm speaking of.

Crossing 1 - CPR Emerson line and Marion Ave

The rail line at this location runs parallel to Archibald Street. Archibald intersects with Marion which crosses the rail line. There is not sufficient distance between Archibald and the crossing for the WA18 sign to be posted. Instead, the sign is posted on Marion before Archibald meaning that signs also need to be posted on Archibald approaching Marion notifying traffic that turns of the upcoming rail crossing. Archibald St.

Marion St.

Above diagram shows missing sign on northbound Archibald approaching Marion and on Marion westbound approaching the crossing as well as southbound Archibald sign as it was prior to 2012.

Archibald northbound (left picture) has no sign indicating that there is an upcoming railway crossing for right turning traffic. This sign has been missing for over four years. Archibald southbound (right picture) does have a sign posted for left turning traffic.

Archibald St.

Marion St.

Above diagram shows current 2013 signing after the southbound Archibald sign was changed. The absence of signs on northbound Archibald and westbound Marion has remained the same.

Traffic approaching the crossing from Marion westbound (left picture) has no warning sign indicating an upcoming crossing and hasn't had for years. In early 2012, rather than install the missing sign on northbound Archibald, the city changed the already present proper sign on southbound Archibald. The properly used WA20L was changed to a WA19L which now gives the incorrect message that this is a "T" intersection (right picture).

Crossing 2 - CNR Main Line and Maginot Street

This location is identical in geometry to the previous example. At this location, Lagimodiere runs parallel to the CNR line. Maginot crosses Lagimodiere and has insufficient distance between Lagimodiere and the crossing for normal posting of a WA18. This means that signs are needed on Maginot eastbound before Lagimodiere and Lagimodiere northbound and southbound approaching Maginot. Lag. SB Lag. NB Lagimodiere northbound approaching Maginot has no sign indicating to right turning traffic that there is a railway crossing on Maginot.

Above diagram shows the missing sign on northbound Lagimodiere approaching Maginot and southbound sign as it was prior to 2012.

Above diagram shows missing sign on northbound Lagimodiere approaching Maginot and changed/added signs on Lagimodiere southbound.

The railway crossing on Waverley south of Taylor involves both a high volume rail line and a high traffic major road. Having a sign at this location should be especially imperative, but in reality, the sign has been missing for three years.

Lag. SB Waverley St.

Crossing 3 - CNR Main line and Waverley Street

Lag. NB Just like on Archibald near Marion, in early 2012 the properly used WA20L on southbound Lagimodiere was changed to a WA19L now giving the incorrect message that Maginot and Lagimodiere is a "T" intersection. A median sign was also added while the northbound direction still remains unsigned. The sign on Waverley northbound (left picture) approaching the CNR mainline fell off the pole during early 2010. The only trace of this sign that has remained for the past three years is the mounting straps left where the sign once was between the deer crossing and speed reduction sign (right picture).

The last three examples that I have just shown are not isolated locations, but are actually indicative of the sign problems throughout the entire city. In many cases, very high traffic roads are left unsigned which should have been especially easy for city crews to observe and fix but instead remain unsigned for several years if not indefinitely. Instead of replacing signs, resources appear to be used to change already properly installed signs. In some cases, signs have even appeared at locations without a rail crossing. I have sent numerous letters to the City of Winnipeg over the past two years attempting to notify them of many types of missing signage. To date, I have not received a response to any of my letters. Signs have continued to remain missing despite my efforts. Since rail safety is such an important issue, I'm asking your office to contact the City of Winnipeg or any other relevant agencies to help aid in getting signing improvements at railway crossings. This is not just a matter of fixing the three locations I referenced, but is actually a need for a city wide review of the signing at all crossings. To give an indication of the volume of problems that exist, when I did a study of all school zones, I found 206 missing school zone signs. Railway crossing signs do not appear to be in any better condition. I would very much not like to see an accident happen at one of these locations due to missing signage. Please notify me at csweryda@hotmail.com with any information you may have regarding this request. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

Chris Sweryda cc. cc. cc. cc. cc. cc. Canadian National Railway Canadian Pacific Railway Transportation Association of Canada Manitoba Public Insurance Manitoba Highway Traffic Board Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation