Speed reduced at intersection after man dies in collision with CTrain; reviews ongoing
Calgary Transit has reduced the speed of trains going over the level crossing at Memorial Drive and Deerfoot Trail.
The change comes just days after a man was killed at that intersection when the car he was driving was struck by a CTrain.
The change also comes before police have concluded their investigation of the crash.
Calgary Transit has ordered CTrain drivers to drop speed to 45 kilometres per hour when approaching and crossing the intersection.
Previously, trains travelled through at 80 kilometres per hour.
Transit spokesperson Jenn Boyer says the change was made "out of an abundance of caution" and may not be permanent.
"We're still working with CPS and we're using other recommendations to inform our decision-making process moving forward," Boyer said.
"In addition to lowering the speed on the outbound tracks, we are looking at installing additional safety devices. For example, flashing lights for the LRT right-of-way for southbound vehicle traffic. However, the timelines on that have yet to be determined."
The City of Calgary's mobility department is also assessing the intersection with an eye on improving driver safety.
Tony Churchill, senior leader of mobility safety with the City of Calgary, says his department's engineers are working closely with police.
"We're currently reviewing some different options about how we could potentially reduce the likelihood that people make those mistakes," Churchill said.
"Some of those things might include ... slight adjustments to traffic signal timing to help clear traffic through that intermediate space between the tracks, and maybe some additional signage or pavement markings just to help clarify that."
Churchill says changes to signage and timing of lights could happen in a matter of weeks, but repainting road lines will have to wait until later in the spring at the minimum.
Sean MacKidd, 48, died after the car he was driving was hit by an eastbound CTrain on the morning of Feb. 21.
At the time, police told CTV News there was little that could be done from an engineering or enforcement perspective to make the intersection more safe, saying in almost all cases of CTrain-vehicle collisions, driver error is the primary cause.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.