Stay tuned...

Thank you for providing you input on Rail Safety in Port Hope. Staff and the consultant are reviewing the feedback and developing a draft plan. Once fully drafted, this plan will be presented to Council for their final review and approval.

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Background

In 2023, Transport Canada established the Program to Enhance Rail Safety Engagement (PERSE) with the aim of promoting efforts to enhance Canada's rail safety system. In February 2023, our staff applied for a PERSE grant to create a Rail Safety Program tailored for the Municipality of Port Hope. By December of the same year, we were informed that we had been granted $75,000 to aid in crafting and implementing this program, which includes developing both a Rail Safety Plan and a Continuity of Operations Plan.

Now, our team, along with technical consultants from Loomex Group Ltd., will embark on the development of the Rail Safety Program. This process will involve engaging with various stakeholders, including First Nations partners, and presenting our progress to the Council.

We anticipate that it will take approximately nine months to complete the program's development. Staff training and a municipal emergency exercise, aimed at practicing and implementing the plans and program, are scheduled for 2025.

This federal grant will cover the costs associated with developing and implementing a comprehensive Rail Safety Program, including an Evacuation Plan and Continuity of Operations Plan for our Municipality. This initiative will enhance our ability to ensure the safety of all residents of Port Hope in the event of a rail line emergency incident.

Community Engagement

Throughout the development of the Rail Safety Program, we will conduct numerous internal engagement sessions involving police, fire, municipal staff, and council members. Concurrently, we will also hold external sessions with community members and First Nations representatives. This inclusive approach ensures that all aspects of rail safety are considered during the development of the Rail Safety Plan for the Municipality. These sessions will be facilitated by our technical consultants, with support from Corporate Communications to handle public engagement events and assist in plan development and the municipal exercise.

In-person engagement session

Join us for our in-person engagement session at Town Hall on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. staff and consultants from Loomex Group Ltd. will be on site to facilitate discussion and gather feedback and recommendations to be implemented in the new Rail Safety Plan.

Survey

Thank you for providing your input. The survey is now closed.