Guelph-Eramosa council has decided to reconsider the installation of railway crossing gates at the site of a fatal collision earlier this year.
On March 11, 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 a Speedvale Avenue West railway crossing.
Mother and grandmother Prabhavati Buraapalli, also in the car, suffered serious injuries.
Family members 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.
But in August a report filed by Public Works Manager Ken Gagnon supported previous correspondence that suggested gates are unnecessary at the railway crossing.
The report explained that although the crossing is at an awkward angle to the road, Transport Canada and the municipality maintain the crossing is safe, because:
– it has warning lights and bells that are in working order;
– the vegetation along the road and tracks does not interfere with the view;
– houses on either side of the track cause a natural slowing of traffic before the tracks; and
– traffic volume is not extremely high in the area.
So on Aug. 7 council voted unanimously to take no further action.
But Gagnon told council last week he has been contacted by Transport Canada officials regarding “the possible future need for a gated crossing at the location.”
On Sept. 12 Gagnon had an on-site meeting with representatives from Transport Canada and Goderich-Exeter Railway.
Shortly 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 site lines that are potentially restricted.
During the meeting officials also noted that there is a potential for an increase in both train and motor vehicle traffic in the area in the next three to five years.
“During discussion with Goderich-Exeter they stated the number of trains crossing the road at this location is expected to increase by six to eight per day, bringing the daily total to 16 within the next few years,” Gagnon told council.
He noted that three of those extra trains will be GO Trains.
When combined with an expected 10% increase in vehicular traffic, the crossing does fulfill the requirements for a gated crossing, he said.
Gagnon explained that up to 80% of the total cost to install gates – approximately $250,000 – could be covered by a federal grant under the Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP).
The township would have to pick up 12% of the cost, with Goderich-Exeter Railway covering about 8%.
However, since projects under the GCIP usually take three years to receive funding, Gagnon said there will be no immediate financial impact for the township.
Council would just have to budget its portion ($30,000) in the year the upgrade is scheduled, he said.
“If we can get it done for $30,000 that’s okay with me,” councillor Doug Breen said.
The rest of council agreed and unanimously approved a resolution instructing staff to inform Transport Canada of the township’s interest to submit a joint GCIP application with the railway.
Councillor Roger Knapp was absent.
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The petition mentioned can be found at www.ipetitions.com/petition/fatalrailcrossing.
“This could have been your family or mine,” the petition begins. “This crossing has lights, but no crossing arms, and the track is on an angle, making it nearly impossible to see a train coming from the left, when proceeding west bound.
“The afternoon sun could be a factor in being able to see the flashing lights that are currently installed.”
The petition continues, “To have a passenger train flying through the countryside, without a physical barrier preventing cars from crossing the tracks, is not acceptable …
“Together, perhaps we can make a difference and give this family some comfort in knowing that something good came from their huge loss.”
But the findings of public works study at the crossing (concerning vehicle classifications, speed, and volumes along the 2.2km-long section of Speedvale Avenue) found that:
– the average speed of the 12,856 vehicles observed was 82.7km/h in an 80km/h zone;
– the average speed of those driving over the speed limit was 90.5km/hour;
– passenger cars and trucks made up 97% of the traffic; and
– the peak traffic in both directions is during the morning and evening commute times.
The report also stated that the crash on March 11 was the only one reported at that particular railway crossing in the last seven years.
