By Cecilia Nasmith

With the help of the Transport Canada Rail Safety Improvement Program, a Brighton railroad crossing considered high-risk will be addressed, Northumberland County councillors heard at their December meeting.

This grade crossing is the one on Prince Edward Street (County Road 64), and council was warned of the risk as far back as a report delivered in January 2010.

RSIP funding aims to support rail-safety improvements that enhance public safety, and it comes in two components.

Funding for infrastructure, technology and research is the component under which the county will receive $1,043,216 for the construction of safety instalments.

Funding for education and awareness is the component under which the county will receive $24,896 for a communications plan to educate the public regarding the changes.

This comes at a cost to the county of only $500,000, council heard.

Councillor Bob Sanderson noted the contributions and pointed out that the county would have to cover any costs beyond that – how much would that be, he wondered.

The money was set aside in the budgets of the two previous years, Denise Marshall replied - $200,000 in 2019 and $300,000 in 2020.