Hamilton Ontario - Today, the City of Hamilton became the third community in Canada to launch the "Look.Listen.Live." Community Safety Partnership Program with Canadian Pacific (CP), Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS), and Operation Lifesaver, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting rail safety.
 
Pedestrians will now see bright yellow sidewalk decals at four level rail crossings that remind commuters to be situationally aware around railway property and to "Look.Listen.Live".
 
This national initiative, which kicked off last year in Vancouver, B.C., and London, is part of CP's 38 year partnership with Operation Lifesaver to reduce preventable rail incidents through education and enforcement.
 
"Tragically, every year more than 100 Canadians are seriously injured or killed as the result of railway crossing or trespassing incidents," said CPPS Deputy Chief Al Sauve.
 
"Rail safety requires 24/7 vigilance. We ask everyone to think about their own safety around railway property. Incidents can happen in a split-second and can have tragic and far-reaching consequences for your family, friends, and community."
 
This morning, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger attended the unveiling of the first decals at the Cumberland Avenue crossing by Gage Avenue South along with CP Police Service, CP operations and engineering employees, Operation Lifesaver, Hamilton Police, and Hamilton Paramedic Services.
 
Crossings at Maplewood Avenue, Wentworth Street, Cumberland Avenue, and 300 Wentworth Street will also be completed.
 
"Rail safety is a shared responsibility," said Mayor Eisenberger.
 
"Together, with education and enforcement, we aim to reduce preventable injuries and deaths. Our hope is that when people see these decals, it will remind them to pay closer attention to their surroundings, look in both directions, listen for approaching trains, and cross tracks only at designated crossings when safe to do so."
 
CP continues to work with local schools, business owners, and residents to educate pedestrians and motorists on how to safely interact with rail crossings.
 
Last week, a team of CP employee volunteers arrived in Hamilton with their 1/4 scale mini-train, The Little General, which visits communities across the CP network each year spreading the CP RailSense message.
 
With this educational program, kids learn about hazards around trains and railway property, and especially to never play close to or on tracks.
 
"We are dedicated to building communities of rail safety ambassadors young and old. Just like how we speak to children about safely crossing the street, they should know how to safely interact with railway property," said CPPS Inspector Bill Law.
 
"There are many cautionary tales about Canadians who have thought they could race through a crossing to avoid waiting on a train, take shortcuts and trespass on railway property, or mistake train equipment as safe to play with."
 
23-29 Sep 2019 will mark Rail Safety Week where once again the city will work with CP, CPPS, and Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness around rail safety.
 
For the second year, the STOP Track Tragedies campaign will run, highlighting emotional stories from victims, friends, families, railway employees, and first responders affected by rail incidents.
 
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