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PreventionofMunicipal–RailwayProximitySafetyIssuesthroughEffectiveLandUsePlanning

ASubmissiontotheRailwaySafetyActReviewPanel

September22,2017

FCM/RACProximityInitiative

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TableofContents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3

BackgroundHistory………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

ProximityIssues……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4

FCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations………………6

GuidelinesAdoption…………………………………………………………………………………………………………8

ProvincialLegislation………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8

CanadianTransportationAgencyDecision69R-2014……………………………………………………….10

Recommendation34oftheRailSafetyActReview(2007)Chapter7………………………………11

TransportCanadaLandUseRole……………………………………………………………………………………..12

RecommendationsforImprovingProximityIssuesinCanada………………………………………….13

Appendix1–FCM-RACMOU2016…………………………………………………………………………………..14

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Introduction

TheFederationofCanadianMunicipalities(FCM)–RailwayAssociationofCanada(RAC)ProximityInitiativemembersbelievethatourmodelofcollaborationdemonstratesthatmunicipalities,railwaysandthefederalgovernmentcanworktogethertoimproverailsafety.TheFCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperationsdemonstratehowwecanbuildbettertodaytoavoidproximitysafetyissuesinherentwhenurbandevelopmentandrailwaysareincloseproximity.Thepushtointensifyurbandevelopmenttoavoidurbansprawlhasledtoincreaseddevelopmentonlandsincloseproximitytorailoperationsandhassometimesresultedinencroachmentonrailwayproperty.Thesenewdevelopmentsincludetheconversionsofindustrialorcommercialpropertiestoresidentialones,sometimesbuiltwithoutanymitigationmeasuresandsitednexttomajorrailwaycorridors.Thisabsenceofmitigationmeasurescreatesserioussafetyandqualityoflifeissuesforresidentsduetothelackofcrashwalls,noiseandvibrationmitigationandproperseparationbarrierstopreventtrespassing.Whenproximityissuesarisingfromthegrowthandexpansionofrailfacilitiesorcommunitiesarenotunderstoodandaddressed,problemscanoftenbeintractableandlonglasting.ThisreviewprovidesanimportantopportunitytodiscusstheseissuesandtheirsignificanceasweplanandlookaheadattransportationpolicyinCanada.TheFCM-RACProximityInitiativeappreciatestheopportunitytoprovidethissubmissiontotheRailwaySafetyActReviewPanel.

BackgroundHistory

TheFederationofCanadianMunicipalities(FCM)andtheRailwayAssociationofCanada(RAC)arecommittedtobuildingacommonapproachtothepreventionandresolutionofissuesthatmayarisewhenpeopleliveandworkincloseproximitytorailwayoperations.Therearerailwayslinesinserviceinover2000municipalitiesacrossCanada.

Buildingonback-to-backmemorandumsofunderstanding(MOU)since2003,bothorganizationscontinuetoworktogetherwiththeirmostrecentopen-endedMOUsignedinSeptember2016.TheFCM–RACProximityInitiativeSteeringCommitteewasestablishedin2003,withequalrepresentationfromtheFCM(electedofficials)andRAC(seniorrailwayrepresentatives)andincludesobserversfromTransportCanadaandtheCanadianTransportationAgency(CTA).

ThethreemaingoalsoftheoriginalMOUwereto:buildawareness,establishguidelinesanddevelopdisputeresolutionprotocolsandprocesses.In2016,theMOUwasreviewedandupdatedtoincludeguidanceforengagingwithProvincialGovernments(seeAppendix1).

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AccomplishmentstodateincludedevelopingadisputeresolutionmodelthatisincludedintheCTAGuidelinesfortheResolutionofComplaintsoverRailwayNoiseandVibration,anddevelopingandpublishingProximityGuidelinesandBestPracticesin2004.Theseinitialguidelineswerereviewed,editedandrevisedtoincludeconversionandinfillprojectsandlaunchedinMay2013attheFCMAnnualConferenceastheGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations.1

ProximityIssues

MostofCanada’smunicipalitieshaveevolvedaroundrailwaylinesandtheservicestheydelivertothecommunity.Whilerailoperationsincommunitieshavebeenmutuallybeneficial,theirproximitycansometimesleadtoissuesbetweenpeopleandtrains.

Canadiansarelivingandworkingaroundtrainsandtheirlines.Theyarealsooptingtoleavetheircarathomeinfavourofcommutingbytrain.Commuterrailcarriesabout77millionpassengersperyear2andthatnumberisontherise.ButasCanadabecomesmoreurbanizedandcitiestrytominimizeurbansprawl,manynewresidentialdevelopmentsarebeingbuiltonsitesincloseproximitytorailfacilitiesinbothurbanandruralcommunities,creatingchallengesforthesecommunitiesandrailwaystoco-exist.Bothparties'goalsarethesame.Railwaysandcommunitiesbothwanttoreducepollution,congestionandcostswhileprioritizingsafetyandconvenience.

Aswithanyothertransportmode'sinfrastructure(e.g.airports,truckdepots),railfacilitiesarelocatedallacrossthecountryandoperate24/7,oftenintheproximityofhighlypopulatedcommunities.AsCanadabecomesincreasinglyurbanized,railroadsandpeoplearelivingclosertogetherasdevelopmentgrowsaroundrailfacilities.Peoplelivingandworkingnearthesefacilities(suchasrailtracksoryards)canbeimpactedbynoiseandvibrationfromtrainoperations.Thismayincludetrainwhistling,wheelsqueal,idlingoflocomotives,andshuntingofcarsinyards.Inaddition,theconstructionandmaintenanceofrailinfrastructuresuchasrailbridges,signals,trackandbuildingscanfurthercomplicatenoiseandvibrationissues.Constructionandmaintenancerelatedtohighway-railwaycrossingscanbedisruptivetopublicconvenience.Railwaystrytominimizetheadverseeffectsoftheiroperationsonpeoplelivingnearbythroughinitiativessuchastrackgreasingandequippinglocomotiveswithanti-idlingdevices.

Theissueofsafetyisalsosometimesnotfullyconsideredinnewdevelopmentprojectsinproximitytoexistingrailwayoperations.Thisincludesthedangeroftrainderailmentsimpacting

1http://www.proximityissues.ca2RailwayAssociationofCanada(2016),RailTrends,CommuterRail,P.20,Retrievedfrom:http://www.railcan.ca/publications/trends

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homesandlives,theconstructionofnewgradecrossings,andadjacentlandusesthatcreatetrespassingissuesacrossrailways.Thesafetyissuesnotedinthe2007RailSafetyActReview’sfinalreportcontinuetoday:

“Weareconvincedfromourconsultationsthatthereisaneedtoimproveandformalizethecommunicationbetweenmunicipaljurisdictionsandtherailwaysonthesafetyimplicationsoflanduseandroadaccessnearrailwayproperties.Rolesandresponsibilitiesshouldbeclarifiedandrecognized.Municipalitiesandland-owners,includingtherailways,shouldengageinrobustconsultationduringthedesignandplanningstagesforlanduseandnon-railwayworksnearrailwaylines.Municipalitiesshouldensurethataccessroadsfornewsubdivisionsarebuilttoexistingpubliccrossings,andtheyshouldtakeresponsibilityforthecrossingsduringthedevelopmentphase.Thecostsfortheongoingmaintenanceofthecrossingsshouldalsobeconsideredinplanning.Municipalitiesmightneedtorequiredeveloperstoabsorbthecostsofcrossingupgradestoaccommodatenewlanduses.”3

3RailwaySafetyActReviewAdvisoryPanel(November2007).StrongerTies:ASharedCommitmenttoRailwaySafety,P.107,https://tc.gc.ca/tcss/RSA_Review-Examen_LSF

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FCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations

TheFCM-RACProximityInitiativedevelopedtherevisedGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations(Guidelines)inMay2013whichbuiltuponanearlierversionofBestPracticesandGuidelinesissuedin2003.ThesenewGuidelinesareintendedtoassistmunicipalgovernmentsandrailwaysinreviewinganddetermininggeneralplanningpolicieswhendevelopingonlandsinproximitytorailwayfacilities,aswellastoestablishaprocessformakingsite-specificrecommendationsanddecisionstoreduceland-useincompatibilitiesfordevelopmentsinproximitytorailwayoperations,addressingsuchissuesassafety,noiseandvibration.Akeycomponentisamodelreviewprocessfornewresidentialdevelopment,infill,andconversionsinproximitytorailways.Adoptionoftheseguidelinesintomunicipallanduseregulationscanprovidegreaterassurancethatourcommunitiesofthefuturearesafeandsustainable.

ThedesiretoensuresafetyandpromoteahighqualityoflifeforpeoplelivingandworkingincloseproximitytorailwaycorridorsisaprincipleobjectiveoftheGuidelines.Mitigationintheformofastandardsetbackandbermorcrashwallaremeasuresthathavebeendevelopedbytherailwaysbasedonadetailedanalysisofpastincidentsandderailments.

Figure1-Standardmitigationforanewresidentialdevelopmentinproximitytoamainlinerailway.Source:FCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations,P.19.

GreenfieldDevelopments

Standardmitigation(Figure1)measuresserveasaminimumrequirementtoreduceincompatibilityissuesassociatedwithlocatingnewdevelopmentinproximitytorailwaycorridors.Thesemeasuresaremosteasilyimplementedinnewgreenfielddevelopments.

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Thesetbackcontributestothemitigationagainstpotentialimpactofrailwayincidentsaswellasnoiseandvibrationthroughdistanceseparation.Theearthenberminconjunctionwiththesetbackcanprotectagainstthephysicalcomponentsofaderailmentandprovidesmitigationofwheelandrailnoise.Italsoreducestheoverallnoisebarrierheightandcost,andoffersaproductiveuseoffoundationexcavations.

Source:FCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations,P.27.

InfillandConversionsTodayweoftenseeconversionandinfillprojectsinurbanareasthatarelocatednexttorailwaycorridorswithoutcrashwallsorsite-specificmitigationmeasuresleadingtomorenoise,vibrationandsafetyissuesformunicipalitiesandrailways.Conversionsandinfilldevelopments(Figure2)areagoodwaytointensifyandbringresidentsbacktocitycentres,buttheseconstructionsmustaddresssafety,noise,vibrationandotherproximityissues.Manyoftheadverseimpactsofrailwaynoisecanbeavoidedorminimizedthroughgooddesignpracticesandsafetyissuesandcanbeaddressedthroughtheincorporationofcrashwalls. Inaninfillorconversiondevelopment,thenoisesensitiverooms,suchasbedrooms,shouldbelocatedonthe“quietside”ofthebuilding.Buildingonapodiumandlocatingthegymorgaragespacesonthesegroundfloors–movestheresidentsfurtherfromthenoiseandvibrationsourceandprovidesanadditionalsafetysetback.TheGuidelinesalsoprovideaDevelopmentViabilityAssessmentprocessforidentifyingalternativesolutionswherethestandardmeasuresarenotworkable.TheintentoftheGuidelinesisto:

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• Promoteawarenessaroundthesafety,noiseandvibrationissuesandmitigationmeasuresassociatedwithdevelopmentnearrailwayoperations;

• Establisheffectiveapprovalsprocessesfornewresidentialdevelopment,infillandconversionsfromindustrialorcommercialusesthatallowsmunicipalplannerstoeffectivelyevaluatesuchproposalswhileensuringthatappropriatesafety,noiseandvibrationmitigationmeasuresareincluded;and

• Promotegreaterconsistencyintheapplicationofrelevantstandardsacrossthecountry.

GuidelinesAdoptionThereisaneedinCanadaforplanningsystemsthatmoreeffectivelyanticipateandmanageproximityissues,andbetterfacilitatemunicipalandrailwaygrowth.Goodplanningsupportseffectivetransportationsystemsandaddressessafetyissues.However,approachesfordealingwithland-usedecisionsinvolvingdevelopmentsinproximitytorailwaysvarygreatlyatthemunicipallevel.

TheFCM-RACProximityInitiativehasanannualoutreachprogramtopromotetheGuidelinesthroughpresentationsandparticipationatconferencesacrossCanada,includingmunicipalassociations,urbanplanningassociations,urbanplanningschools,industryassociations,municipalcouncils,localgovernmentassociations,provincialmunicipalassociations,transportationassociations,developmentandreal-estategroupsandprovinciallanduseministries.

TheAgglomerationofMontrealthatincludestheCityofMontrealandthefifteenindependentcitiesontheIslandofMontrealwasthefirstmajorurbanareatoadopttheGuidelinesintoitslanduseplaninJanuary2015.4TenothermajorcitiesarereviewingtheGuidelinesandmorethan175othermunicipalitieshaveadopted,orareusing,theGuidelinesintheirpermittingprocess.

ProvincialLegislation

WhilethereisincreasedinterestandactivitybymunicipalitiesinadoptingtheGuidelines,havingprovincialgovernmentsadopttheGuidelinesintotheirprovinciallanduseacts,andultimatelymunicipalland-useplans,wouldensureconsistencyinsafetyandlivabilityacrossthecountry.Thiswouldprovideaframeworktoeffectivelyanticipateandmanageproximityissues,andtobetterfacilitatemunicipalandrailwaygrowth.

4Schémad’aménagementetdedéveloppementdel’agglomérationdeMontréal,Chapitre4–Ledocumentcomplémentaire,4.8.3.

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CurrentlytheGovernmentofSaskatchewan,MinistryofGovernmentRelations,CommunityPlanning,arereviewinginputfromstakeholders(membersoftheProximityGovernmentRelationsCommitteeattended)regardingamendmentstoThePlanningandDevelopmentAct,2007(PDA).TheMinistryconsultedonfiveplanninganddevelopment-relatedthemesthatincludedplanninginproximitytorailwayoperations.ItisanticipatedthatthenewlegislationwillbeenactedbyMay2018,butitisnotknownifthefinalchangeswillincludeanyzoningorlandusechangeswithregardstosetbacksormitigationmeasuresforproximityissues.

TheProvinceofOntariohasenactedlegislationanddevelopedguidelineswithregardstolanduseplanningandrail–municipalproximitymanagement.TheProximityInitiativeparticipatedinboththereviewoftheProvincialPolicyStatement(PPS)in2013andthecreationoftheFreightSupportiveGuidelinesin2014.Asaresultofthisengagement,theOntarioMinistryofMunicipalAffairsandHousinghaveincludedmanyaspectsoftheGuidelinesintheirPPSthatbecameeffectiveonApril30,2014.5UnderthePlanningAct,municipalitiesmustreviseandupdatetheirofficialplaneveryfiveyearstoensurethatitconformstoprovincialplansandisconsistentwiththePPS:“AllmunicipalofficialplansanddecisionsaffectingaplanningmatterinOntarioarerequiredtobeconsistentwiththepoliciessetoutinthePPS.ThePPSprovidespolicydirectiononmattersofprovincialinterestrelatedtolanduseplanninganddevelopment,includingprovidingspecificdirectiononfreight-supportivelandusepatterns,protectionofmajor-goodsmovementfacilitiesandcorridorsandplanninginvicinityofmajorfacilities.”6

TheOntarioMinistryofTransportation’sFreightSupportiveGuidelinesareintendedto“helpmunicipalities,planners,engineers,developersandotherpractitionerscreatesafeandefficientfreight-supportivecommunities.Bycoordinatinglanduseplanningandfreightmobilityplanning,theGuidelineshelptorespondtoindustryneedsforfreightmovementinOntario,aswellasprovidelinkagesbetweenfreightmovementandlanduseplanningpolicyandpractice.”7TheFreightSupportiveGuidelinesareintendedtocomplementandbeinaccordancewiththeexistingprovincialpolicyframeworkbyprovidingstrategies,informationandknowledgetoassistmunicipalitiesinimplementingfreight-supportivepoliciesintheirofficialplans.

RegulationsunderOntario’sPlanningActalsorequirerailwaystobenotifiedofofficialplans(andamendments),subdivisionplans,zoningbylawsandconsentstoseverlands,iftheproposalinvolvesanylandwithin300metresofarailwayline.Thisallowstherailwaysto

5OntarioMinistryofMunicipalAffairsandMinistryofHousing(2014),2014ProvincialPolicyStatement,http://www.mah.gov.on.ca6OntarioMinistryofTransportation(2016)FreightSupportiveGuidelines,P8http://www.mto.gov.on.ca7IbidP3

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reviewproposeddevelopmentsandsubmitrecommendationsregardingincompatibilityorsafetyissues.DisputescanbebroughttotheOntarioMunicipalBoardforadjudication.8

NewBrunswickhasalsoadoptedasimilarnotificationprocessintheirsubdivisionbylawsunderBill45,anActRespectingLocalGovernanceandCommunityPlanning(May5,2017).ThiswillcomeintoeffectonJanuary1,2018.9Whilewearepleasedwiththisdecision,itisimportanttonotethatitonlyappliestonewsub-divisionsandisnotbinding.

Whilenotificationprocessesopenadialogbetweenthemunicipalityandrailway,theyarenotbindingandinthecaseofOntarioandtheOntarioMunicipalBoard,arbitrationprocesscanbelengthyandcostlyforbothmunicipalitiesandrailways.InNewBrunswick,therailwaysaretobegivenatimelimitoftwoweekstofileanobjectionandthedevelopmentofficercanapprovethesubdivisionevenifanobjectionisreceived.

TheProximityInitiativecontinuestopromotetheadoptionoftheFCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations,butthereisaneedforfederalleadershiptoensuresetbacksandothermitigationmeasuresforsafetyareinplaceforallnewdevelopmentsandredevelopmentprojects.

CanadianTransportationAgencyDecision69-R-2014

TheCanadaTransportationActauthorizestheCanadianTransportationAgency(theAgency)toresolvecomplaintsaboutnoiseorvibrationrelatedtoconstructionoroperationsbyfederalfreightrailwaysandpublicpassengerserviceprovidersincludingurbantransitauthorities.

TheAgencycitedtheProximityInitiative’sfirstGuidelinesandBestPractices(2004)inDecisionNo.69-R-2014inFebruary2014.ThenoiseandvibrationcomplaintwasfromaresidentofVaudreuil-Dorion,Quebec.Thecomplaintwasdismissedbasedonthefollowingdetermination:

[55]TheAgencynotesthatdespitethecloseproximitytothebusymainlinetrack,noevidencewaspresentedthattheresidentialdeveloperassessedtheimpactsoftherailwaynoiseandvibrationontheresidentialdevelopment.Noevidencewaspresentedthatthedeveloperincorporatedmitigationmeasuresintheconstructionofthehousetolessentheexposuretonoiseandvibration.10

[56]Furthermore,beyondapostfactomunicipalcouncilresolutionexpressingconcernaboutnoiseandvibrationandaffirmingthattheMunicipalityaimstoensurethatits

8RSO1990,cP19[PlanningAct].OfficialPlansandPlanAmendments,OReg545/06,cl5(9)11.9GovernmentofNewBrunswick,Bill45CommunityPlanningAct.http://www.gnb.ca/legis/bill/pd/58/3Bill-45.pdf10http://ww.otc-cta.gc.ca,Decisionsanddeterminations,Rail2014,DecisionNo.69-R-2014

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citizensgetthebestpossiblequalityoflife,thereisnoevidencebeforetheAgencyindicatingthatwhenapprovalsweresoughtforthehousingdevelopment,anyconsiderationwasgivenbytheMunicipalitytoissuesofnoiseandvibrationortotheproximityofresidencestoCP’smainline,notwithstandingtheFederationofCanadianMunicipalitiesandRailwayAssociationofCanada’sProximityGuidelinesandBestPractices,whichpre-datetheMunicipality’sdecisiontoapprovetheconstructionandofwhichtheMunicipalityshouldhavebeenaware.11

57]AMunicipalitytakesariskwhendecidingtoallowhousingdevelopmentincloseproximitytoarailwayrightofwayandtheAgencyisoftheopinionthatMunicipalitieshavearesponsibilitytoassesscompatibilityissuesbeforeapprovingahousingdevelopmentalongarailwayrightofway,andiftheyapproveadevelopment,toensurethatthenecessarymitigationmeasuresareimplemented.TheAgencynotesthattheMunicipalityapparentlyauthorizedtheresidentialconstructionalongCP’smaineast-westrailtransportationcorridor.However,therewasnoevidencepresentedtotheAgencyofanymitigationmeasureshavingbeenimplemented.Infact,CPdrawsattentiontothefactthatnobermornoisewallwasconstructed.12

TheProximityInitiativewaspleasedthattheAgencyrecognizedtheimportantcontributionoftheGuidelinesinreducingproximityissues.Thisdecisionalsoillustratesthatthefundamentalquestionofdevelopmentsincloseproximitytorailwayfacilitiesremainsunregulatedandisperpetuatedasaresultoftheabsenceofaregulatoryframework

Recommendation34oftheRailSafetyActReview(2007)

TheProximityInitiativeprovidedasubmissionduringtheRailwaySafetyActReview(2007)andapresentation(ProximityManagement&CommunityOutreachinCanada)inJuly2007.IssuesdescribedinStrongerTies:ASharedCommitmenttoRailwaySafety–ReviewoftheRailwaySafetyAct,November2007continuestoday:“Theissueofnewdevelopmentnearrailwaysisamulti-jurisdictionalchallenge,sinceland-useplanninganddevelopmentisbothaprovincialandamunicipalresponsibility,whilethemajorrailwaysandtheirrights-of-wayarefederallyregulated.Therearenoconsistentconsultationprotocolsorland-useappealmechanismsacrossthecountry,andprovincialandmunicipallandzoningandpermitproceduresvarywidely.”13

TheRailwaySafetyReviewPanel,initsfinalreportrespondedtothatconcernbynotingthat:“Wearealsoawarethatrailwaysafetydependsongoodcollaborationamongmany11Ibid12Ibid13RailwaySafetyActReviewAdvisoryPanel(November2007).StrongerTies:ASharedCommitmenttoRailwaySafety,P104,https://tc.gc.ca/tcss/RSA_Review-Examen_LSF

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stakeholderswithdifferentinterests,includingthoseatalllevelsofgovernment,publicandprivatesectororganizations,andthepublic.Thisbecameparticularlyapparentwhenissuesthatareforemostinthepublic’smind,suchasthoseinvolvingproximityofrailwaystocommunities,andenvironmentalconcerns,werebroughttoourattention.”14

ThePanelissuedRecommendation34:“TheRailwaySafetyActshouldbeamendedtorequirethedeveloperandmunicipalitiestoengageinaprocessofconsultationwithrailwaycompaniespriortoanydecisionrespectinglandusethatmayaffectrailwaysafety.”15

NoactionsresultedfromRecommendation34andasearlierstated,thesameproximityissuesinvolvingsafetycontinuetoday.

TransportCanadaLandUseRole

UnderCanada’sConstitution,provincialgovernmentshaveauthorityoverlanduseplanning.However,therearelimitedexceptions.ButinmattersofsafetyTransportCanadahasjurisdictionwhichhasbeenusedtoimposerestrictionsinlandusewithregardstoairports(aerodromes)

“Fromaregulatoryperspective,theauthorityforthedesignationofandcontroloftheuseoflandslocatedoutsideofaerodromepropertyrestswithprovincial/municipallevelsofgovernment.Theonlyexceptiontothisfact,intheaviationcase,occurswhereanairportzoningregulation,madepursuanttotheAeronauticsAct,isinforce.

TheMinisterofTransportmayexerciseauthorityonlyoverlandsthatareincludedinanAirportZoningRegulationmadepursuanttotheAct.AnAirportZoningRegulationcontainsrestrictiveclausesthatdescribetheactivitiesandusesthatarerestrictedorprohibitedandcontainsalegaldescriptionofthelandstowhichitapplies.

Restrictionsandorprohibitionscontainedinazoningregulationmayrangefromlimitingtheheightofstructurestoprohibitingspecifiedlandusesortoprohibitingfacilitiesthatmayinterferewithsignalsorcommunicationsto/fromaircraft.”16

TherearetoomanymunicipalitiesinCanadathatwouldbeimpacted(over2000)tohaveasimilarzoningregulationundertheRailwaySafetyActbuttheabovedoesdemonstratethatTransportCanadahaspreviouslyplayedaroleinregulatinglandusetoprotectthesafetyofthepublicandproperty.14Ibid,P.815Ibid,P.10716AeronauticsAct(R.S.,1985,c.A-2)

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RecommendationsforImprovingRail-MunicipalSafetyIssuesinCanadaThereisaneedforamorecomprehensiveapproachacrossCanadathatappropriatelyconsidersandcreatesalanduseframeworkfornewdevelopmentsinproximitytorailwayoperationsthatincludessetbacksandmitigationmeasurestoensuresafety.TheFCM-RACProximityInitiativeisrecommendingthattheRSAReviewPanelincludesthefollowingintheirfinalreport:

• Arecommendationtourgethefederalgovernmenttoworkcloselywithitsprovincialcounterpartstoadvancelanduseplanningbestpracticesinproximitytorailwayoperations,thatwouldincludeadoptingmandatorysetbacksand/orcrashwallsorothersite-specificmeasurespertheGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperationsbymunicipalitiesandprovincialgovernments,andsupportprovincialeffortstodevelopanotificationtorailwaysprocessthatisalignedwithprovinciallanduseregulations.

• ArecommendationtoamendtheRailwaySafetyActtorequireroadauthoritiestofirstconsideralternativestocreatingnewgradecrossings,includingupgradingandimprovingsafetyatexistingcrossingsandgrade-separatedcrossings,beforeconstructinganewgradecrossing.

• Arecommendationthatthefederalgovernmentensurethatnewcrossingsorexistingpublicorprivatecrossingsareupgradedtomeetthecurrentandfuturesafetyneedsofthelocalcommunity,andthatfederalfundingforsafetyimprovementstocrossings,includingpossiblegradeseparationsandclosures,isinplace.

Inconclusion,theFCM-RACProximityInitiativeiscommittedtocontinuingtocollaboratewithmunicipalities,railwaysandthefederalgovernmenttoimproverailsafetythroughthepromotionoftheFCM-RACGuidelinesforNewDevelopmentinProximitytoRailwayOperations.However,thereisaneedforfederalleadershiptoensurethatthereisconsistencyinsafetyforallnewdevelopmentsinproximitytorail

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Appendix1

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