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Proximity Initiative

Canada’s railways have played a fundamental role in communities across Canada for more than a century. From coast to coast to coast, towns have been built around rail tracks and Canadians have relied on railways to ensure the efficient movement of goods and people. But the practice of developing land in close proximity to railway operations, and the expansion of rail in urban areas, has caused some challenges for municipalities, developers and railways. That’s where the Proximity Initiative comes in.

Starting the Conversation Between Railways and Communities

Created in 2003, the goal of the RAC Proximity Initiative is to prevent problems from arising between railways and residents. The initiative is led by a committee of elected officials and senior railway representatives from across Canada, who work together to develop strategies to reduce misunderstanding, increase safety, and avoid unnecessary conflict arising from railway-community proximity.

By providing the public with up-to-date resources and information on rail infrastructure and operations, municipal planning guidelines, and a dispute resolution process, the Proximity Initiative is helping to bridge any gaps between railways and residents, while pursuing common goals that will benefit communities, railways and the country as a whole.

For more information, please download this info-sheet on the initiative.

Download infosheet

For More Information, Please Contact:

Jenelle Saskiw
Project Manager, RAC Proximity Initiative
jsaskiw@railcan.ca
(780) 214-0757

Ben Chursinoff
Manager, Policy, Environment & Programs
bchursinoff@railcan.ca
(613) 564-8095

Modernization of the Railway Proximity Guidelines

Throughout 2025, the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) will be working closely with Dillon Consulting, the rail industry, and all interested parties to modernize the Proximity Guidelines. These Guidelines were last revised in 2013, when the RAC and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) co-developed the FCM-RAC Guidelines for New Development in Proximity to Railway Operations (Proximity Guidelines/Guidelines). The Guidelines exist to enhance safety and livability by providing developers and communities with planning tools for development in proximity to railway corridors.

The modernized Guidelines will:

  • Prioritize safety by providing the tools needed to meet today’s health and safety standards, including the impacts from heavy passenger and freight rail such as noise, vibration, and emissions;
  • Address the opportunities for improvement identified since the Guidelines were implemented and applied since 2013;
  • Consider the different needs diverse communities have by providing appropriate guidance for urban and rural areas to consider;
  • Enable a consistent approach to reviewing development in proximity to rail across the country;
  • Incorporate risk-based safety measures. The risk-based approach will allow for safety measures to be commensurate with the type of land use/occupancy of a parcel while considering current and future railway operations. The risk-based approach will provide municipalities with the tools and resources to adopt parcel-specific regulations;
  • Encourage a consistent review framework that will decrease disputes, allow for quicker approvals, and create less administrative burden;
  • Consider the urbanization pressures and housing needs facing many Canadian municipalities; and
  • Create inclusive Guidelines based on feedback from governments, municipalities, First Nations, organizations, and developers.

Did you know?

Approximately 170 Canadian municipalities are currently estimated to reference the Guidelines to some extent to support local community planning.

Why are we Modernizing the Guidelines?

Since the Proximity Guidelines were released and implemented across Canada over 10 years ago, real world experience has identified many opportunities for improvement. Also, Canada’s housing crisis has led to changing housing priorities and policies that incentivize more housing developments. Absent from this national dialogue is the critical importance of rail safety and how best to develop near rail. This is critical context for revisiting the Guidelines to address gaps, development pressures, and incorporate input from all interested parties to provide enhanced safety guidance for 2025 and beyond. 

Project Timeline

We want to hear from you

We want to hear from you

Are you a resident that lives near a development that’s in proximity to railway corridors? Are you a municipal or provincial leader? Submit your feedback today to help inform the modernization of the railway Proximity Guidelines!

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