Grade Crossings Regulations (SOR/2014-275)

Marginal note:Interconnected traffic signal

56 A warning system installed at a grade crossing that corresponds to the specifications set out in article 19.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards must be interconnected with the traffic signal, and the interconnection must meet the standards set out in articles 19.2 to 19.4 of those Standards.

Existing Grade Crossing

Public Grade Crossing

Design Vehicle

Marginal note:Selection

57 A design vehicle that corresponds to the use of an existing grade crossing that is a public grade crossing must be selected.

Cumulative Requirements

Marginal note:Basic requirements

58 An existing grade crossing that is a public grade crossing must meet the standards set out in Part B of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Additional requirements

59 In addition to meeting the requirements of section 58, an existing grade crossing that is a public grade crossing must meet the requirements of sections 60 to 71 beginning on

• (a) November 28, 2022, in the case of a high-priority grade crossing; or

• (b) November 28, 2024, in any other case.

Crossing Surface and Road Approach

Marginal note:Crossing surface

60 A crossing surface must meet the standards set out in article 5 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Road approach

61 A road approach must meet the standards set out in article 6.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Signs

Marginal note:Railway Crossing sign

62 A Railway Crossing sign must meet the standards set out in articles 8.1.3 and 8.1.4 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Emergency Notification sign

63 An Emergency Notification sign must be installed at a grade crossing in accordance with the standards set out in article 8.5 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Stop sign

• 64 (1) A Stop sign must be installed at a grade crossing without a warning system if the road crossing design speed is less than 15 km/h.

• Marginal note:Standards

  (2) The Stop sign and its installation must meet the standards set out in article 8.4 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Stop Ahead sign

65 A Stop Ahead sign must be installed if the Stop sign is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance, and must meet the standards set out in article 8.3 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Railway Crossing Ahead sign and Advisory Speed Tab sign

• 66 (1) A Railway Crossing Ahead sign with an Advisory Speed Tab sign must be installed if

  • (a) the Railway Crossing sign is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance; or

  • (b) the speed of a motor vehicle on the road approach needs to be reduced in order to correspond to the road crossing design speed.

• Marginal note:Standards

  (2) The Railway Crossing Ahead sign and the Advisory Speed Tab sign must meet the standards set out in article 8.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign

• 67 (1) A Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign must be installed if

  • (a) the road approach is an expressway, taking into account the characteristics set out for expressways in Table 10-4 of the Grade Crossings Standards;

  • (b) at least one set of front light units on the warning system is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance of at least one of the lanes of the road approach; or

  • (c) the weather conditions at the grade crossing repeatedly obscure the visibility of the warning system.

• Marginal note:Standards

  (2) The Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign must meet the standards set out in articles 18.1 and 18.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Warning System

Marginal note:Light distribution and intensity

• 68 (1) The distribution and intensity of the light from a warning system must meet the standards set out in article 13 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

• Marginal note:Alignment of light units

  (2) The alignment of each set of light units must meet the standards set out in articles 14.2 to 14.6 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Warning time

69 Before railway equipment reaches a crossing surface, the warning system must operate in accordance with articles 16.1.1(a) to (c) and 16.2.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Cut-out circuits

70 If railway equipment is operated, left standing or stopped in a manner that regularly causes, or will regularly cause, the activation of the warning system at a grade crossing other than for the purpose of crossing that grade crossing, the warning system must contain circuits that meet the standards set out in article 16.3.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Directional stick circuit

71 The directional stick circuit of a warning system must meet the standards set out in article 16.4 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Private Grade Crossing

Design Vehicle

Marginal note:Selection

72 A design vehicle that corresponds to the use of an existing grade crossing that is a private grade crossing must be selected.

Cumulative Requirements

Marginal note:Railway Crossing sign and Number of Tracks sign

73 A Railway Crossing sign and a Number of Tracks sign that are installed at an existing grade crossing that is a private grade crossing must meet the standards set out in Part B of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Additional requirements

74 In addition to meeting the requirements of section 73, an existing grade crossing that is a private grade crossing must meet the requirements of sections 76 to 81 beginning on November 28, 2024.

Marginal note:Requirements respecting warning systems

• 75 (1) An existing grade crossing that is a private grade crossing must meet the requirements of sections 82 to 85 beginning on November 28, 2024.

• Marginal note:Exception — certain private grade crossings

  (2) Sections 82 to 85 do not apply to a grade crossing with a railway design speed of 25 km/h or less if

  • (a) access to the road leading to the grade crossing is controlled by a locked barrier; or

  • (b) the grade crossing is for the exclusive use of the private authority and is not used by the public.

• Marginal note:Exception — limited use warning systems

  (3) Sections 82 to 85 do not apply to a limited use warning system of a type referred to in Appendix B of the Grade Crossings Standards or to a limited use warning system with a walk light of a type referred to in Appendix C of those Standards.

Crossing Surface and Road Approach

Marginal note:Crossing surface

76 A crossing surface must meet the standards set out in article 5 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Road approach

77 A road approach must meet the standards set out in article 6.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Road crossing design speed

78 A road crossing design speed must be selected for the grade crossing.

Signs

79 If a Stop sign is installed and it is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance, a Stop Ahead sign meeting the standards set out in article 8.3 of the Grade Crossings Standards must be installed.

Marginal note:Railway Crossing Ahead sign and Advisory Speed Tab sign

• 80 (1) If a Railway Crossing sign is installed, a Railway Crossing Ahead sign with an Advisory Speed Tab sign must be installed if

  • (a) the Railway Crossing sign is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance; or

  • (b) the speed of a motor vehicle on the road approach needs to be reduced in order to correspond to the road crossing design speed.

• Marginal note:Standards

  (2) The Railway Crossing Ahead sign and Advisory Speed Tab sign must meet the standards set out in article 8.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign

• 81 (1) A Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign must be installed if

  • (a) at least one set of front light units on the warning system is not clearly visible within the stopping sight distance of at least one of the lanes of the road approach; or

  • (b) the weather conditions at the grade crossing repeatedly obscure the visibility of the warning system.

• Marginal note:Standards

  (2) The Prepare to Stop at Railway Crossing sign must meet the standards set out in articles 18.1 and 18.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Warning System

Marginal note:Light distribution and intensity

• 82 (1) The distribution and intensity of the light from a warning system must meet the standards set out in article 13 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

• Marginal note:Alignment of light units

  (2) The alignment of each set of light units must meet the standards set out in articles 14.2 to 14.6 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Warning time

83 Before railway equipment reaches a crossing surface, the warning system must operate in accordance with articles 16.1.1(a) to (c) and 16.2.2 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Cut-out circuits

84 If railway equipment is operated, left standing or stopped in a manner that regularly causes, or will regularly cause, the activation of the warning system at a grade crossing other than for the purpose of crossing that grade crossing, the warning system must contain circuits that meet the standards set out in article 16.3.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:Directional stick circuit

85 The directional stick circuit of a warning system must meet the standards set out in article 16.4 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Changes to Grade Crossing

Marginal note:Signs

86 If a Railway Crossing sign or a Number of Tracks sign is replaced at an existing grade crossing, the sign must meet the standards set out in article 8.1 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

Marginal note:New warning system

• 87 (1) If a warning system is installed at a grade crossing, it must meet the applicable standards set out in articles 12 to 16 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

• Marginal note:Modification or installation of component

  (2) When a component of a warning system is modified or is installed, the component must, except in the case of a replacement in kind for maintenance purposes, meet the applicable standards set out in articles 12 to 16 of the Grade Crossings Standards.

• Marginal note:Increase in railway design speed

  (3) If the installation of a warning system — or the modification or installation of a component of a warning system — results from an increase in the railway design speed, the warning system or component must meet the applicable standards set out in articles 12 to 16 of the Grade Crossings Standards before the increase in the railway design speed takes effect.

• Marginal note:Alternative — limited use

  (4) If the grade crossing provides access to fewer than three private dwelling-places and does not provide access to a business, a limited use warning system, and signs, that meet the standards set out in Appendix B of the Grade Crossings Standards, may be installed at the grade crossing instead of the warning system referred to in subsection (1).

• Marginal note:Alternative — walk light

  (5) A limited use warning system with a walk light, and signs, that meet the standards set out in Appendix C of the Grade Crossings Standards, may be installed at the grade crossing instead of the warning system referred to in subsection (1) or (4), if

  • (a) access to the road is controlled by a locked barrier; or

  • (b) the grade crossing is for the exclusive use of the private authority and is not used by the public.