There are new safety decals on a pathway in Barrhaven. This is what they mean
New decals have been installed along a busy recreation path in Barrhaven at the Fallowfield rail crossing.
Unveiled Wednesday morning, the new signs are part of rail safety measures.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
The city has partnered with Operation Lifesaver Canada to install "Look. Listen. Live." Decals, which crosses a rail line and the transitway.
The crossing does have gates and lights, but users of the path will now also see the decals prior to approaching the crossing, "to give you that quick final reminder that oh, right, I'm getting near a railroad track," says Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney, chair of the city's Transportation Committee.
"People may be distracted, on their phone, looking down; while there's an undo button on here," he said, pointing at his phone, "there is no undo button in life."
This week is Rail Safety Week in Canada.
"We're partnering with the City of Ottawa for Rail Safety Week. Similar to how we've partnered with over 100 municipalities in Canada, to promote rail safety and educate the public on the need for, really close attention being paid at these rail crossings. As you can see today, this is a major crossing that we're at," Nick McRoberts with Operation Lifesaver Canada tells CTV News Ottawa.
The Fallowfield crossing is about 500 metres southwest along the rail tracks from where a collision between a train and an OC Transpo bus occurred on Sept. 18, 2013, killing the bus driver and five passengers.
According to Operation Lifesaver Canada, 105 people were killed or suffered life-limiting, life-altering injuries on or around tracks and trains in 2023 and 73 Canadians were hurt or killed because they were on tracks or rail property illegally. Another 32 were hurt or killed at crossings.
In the first half of 2024, total railway accidents were down 15 per cent, but crossing accidents were up 11 per cent.
Canada has more than 42,000 kilometres of track, and nearly 25,000 places where railways meet roadways.
Approximately 60 per cent of public crossing accidents in Canada occur at crossings with automated warnings, such as flashing lights, bells, or gates.
The decals were supplied as part of a national partnership with municipalities, and installed by city crews. "So, this decal here is a good reminder for whether you're cycling, walking or rollerblading on this path, just to be mindful that there's a crossing coming up," says John Wambombo with Safer Roads Ottawa.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPs debating second Conservative motion of non-confidence in PM Trudeau
Members of Parliament are debating the second Conservative motion of non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government of the week.
Cold case arrest: Nunavut RCMP charge man with murder in 1986 death of teenage girl
Mounties in Nunavut have made an arrest in the murder of a 15-year-old girl almost 40 years ago.
Mounties in B.C. warn 'highly convincing' scammers extorting victims with photos of their homes
Scammers are increasingly using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members, according to a new warning from Mounties in Metro Vancouver.
Air Canada flight to Toronto diverts due to emergency
An Air Canada flight headed to Toronto from Frankfurt diverted to Edinburgh due to an emergency Thursday, the airline says.
BREAKING Canadian rapper K'naan charged with sexual assault following arrest in Quebec City
Canadian singer K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.
WATCH LIVE Helene's winds batter Florida as Category 3 storm races toward the coast
Tropical storm force winds began battering Florida on Thursday as Hurricane Helene prepared to make landfall, with forecasters warning that the enormous storm could create a "nightmare" surge along the coast and churn up damaging winds hundreds of miles inland across much of the southeastern U.S.
NDP MP introduces bill to criminalize residential school denialism
An NDP MP has introduced a bill that would criminalize residential school denialism, saying it would help stop harm caused toward survivors, their families and communities.
Masking reintroduced in N.S. hospitals as respiratory illnesses increase
A partial masking mandate has returned to Nova Scotia hospitals and provincially run healthcare facilities for visitors and healthcare workers.
Eye drops recalled in Canada over infection risk
A Canadian pharmaceutical company is warning consumers not to use some of its eye drops because of potential microbial growth that may result in eye infections.