Local governments are invited to complete a brief survey to indicate awareness and use of rail proximity guidelines. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) are preparing to update the guidelines for 2023, and are seeking input to identify areas for improvement and change.
In 2003 FCM and RAC established Proximity Guidelines for new developments in proximity to railway operations. The aim was a common approach to prevent and resolve issues that may arise when people live and work near railway operations. The guidelines were made available for use by local and provincial governments, railways, developers, and property owners.
FCM and RAC promote the guidelines through the Proximity Initiative, which is led by local elected officials and senior railway representatives from across Canada. They work alongside all orders of government to develop strategies to reduce misunderstandings, increase safety, and avoid unnecessary conflicts arising from railway-community proximity.