Direction 2006 is a partnership between all levels of government, railway companies, public safety organizations, police, unions and community groups. Its objective is to reduce grade crossing collisions and trespassing incidents by 50 per cent by the year 2006.

Although rail-related incident rates and crossing fatalities have reached their lowest levels in 10 years, improving safety at highway/railway crossings is one of the top priorities for Transport Canada and Canada's railways, as collisions at crossings account for half of the railway-related deaths and injuries each year.

Passenger trains travel up to 160 km/h and freight trains 105 km/h. It can take a train more than one minute to come to a complete stop. For example, in perfect weather, an 88-car freight train weighing 13,000 tonnes and traveling 96 km/h would cover about two kilometres before stopping.

In 2001, 96 men, women and children were killed in highway/railway crossing collisions, and from trespassing on the tracks across Canada. To help improve that situation, the Transport Canada Grade Crossing Improvement Program contributes an average of $7.5 million a year to improve public safety at highway/railway crossings.

Improvements to crossings may include the installation of flashing lights and gates, the addition of gates or extra lights to existing systems, the interconnection of crossing signals to nearby traffic lights, or the addition of new operating circuits or timing devices at crossings.

Crossings in need of improvement are identified through regular monitoring programs conducted by experienced rail safety personnel from Transport Canada and the railways. Railways and road authorities, such as municipal governments, can apply for funds to improve crossings identified through this monitoring.

Their applications are evaluated by Transport Canada's Rail Safety staff, who take into consideration factors such as train and vehicle traffic at the crossing, nearby intersections with dangerous traffic patterns, sightlines, visibility, complaints from the public and the crossing's collision history.

Once a project is approved, Transport Canada will fund up to 80 per cent of the necessary improvements. The remaining cost is shared between the railway and the road authority. They are also responsible for completing the project.

If the improvements involve the installation or upgrade of automatic warning systems at a crossing, the railway involved will carry out the work required. If the improvements involve roadwork, such as the addition of a traffic light, then that work is their responsibility.

Transport Canada and the Railway Association of Canada also work together on Operation Lifesaver, a public education program that, since 1981, has helped reduce crossing collisions by 60 per cent.