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Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) - Canada
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Source verified July 23, 2026

Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)

Federal support for rail safety projects
Offered by
Transport Canada (TC)
Official source: tc.canada.ca
Latest source update
Last Update: July 18, 2026
Latest change: The Rail Safety Improvement Program now shows detailed applicant guide content, including eligibility, application steps, evaluation criteria, and the September 4, 2026 deadline at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
View change
Applicant Guide Details Added
The Rail Safety Improvement Program now includes detailed applicant guide content for infrastructure, technology and research projects, including who can apply, eligible and ineligible expenditures, intake priorities, and application instructions. The guide also shows the submission deadline as September 4, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time and states that the maximum amount payable for infrastructure, technology and research activities is $10 million per recipient, per fiscal year. The added guide content also expands the scope of eligible project types and evaluation criteria for the stream, including grade crossing closures, infrastructure and grade crossing improvements, and technology and research projects.
Funding available
$ 10,000,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply

A province or territory

See full eligibility

Overview

Transport Canada's Rail Safety Improvement Program provides federal funding for projects that improve safety at high-risk rail crossings and along rail lines. It supports infrastructure, technologies, research, education, and public awareness to reduce collisions, derailments, injuries, and fatalities in the rail network.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
  • Up to 80% of project cost
Funds Providers

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Canada
Legal structures
  • For-profit business
  • Non-profit
  • Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • Research
Target groups
  • All the groups
Revenue structures
  • All structures
Scope
  • All dimensions

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Grade crossing closures
  • Infrastructure and grade crossing improvements
  • Technology and research projects
  • Education and awareness projects that raise public awareness and understanding of rail safety risks
  • Projects focused on preventing trespassing on railway property

Documents Needed

  • The application form or applicant form
  • The proposal template for the Education and Awareness stream
  • The templates required for the Infrastructure, Technology and Research stream

Official resources

Official page

Rail Safety Improvement Program

Program guide

Document requestor

Document requestor

Document requestor

Application form

RSIP ITR 2026-27: Application for Grade Crossing Closure

RSIP ITR 2026-27: Application for Infrastructure and Grade Crossing Improvement

RSIP ITR 2026-27: Application for Research and Technology

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • A province or territory
  • An Indigenous community, group, or organization
  • A municipality, local or regional government, or a road or transit authority
  • A Crown corporation, a for-profit organization, or a not-for-profit organization, including academia
  • A person

Eligible expenses

  • Staff salaries and benefits; professional services including accounting, translation, audit, and consulting
  • Buying or leasing capital assets, technology, equipment, and supplies; planning, design, and evaluation; engineering and environmental reviews and follow-up measures
  • Building and rehabilitating assets, including fees paid to general contractors and labourers, materials, licenses, permits, and renting construction machinery and equipment
  • Administrative costs; travel, including accommodations, vehicle rental and kilometric rates, bus, train, airplane, or taxi fares; printing, publishing, and distributing material; room rentals and other facility costs; conference fees
  • Indigenous consultations; other direct, reasonable, and incremental costs approved in writing before being incurred; cash-equivalent expenditures associated with in-kind contributions are not reimbursable

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Costs incurred before the project approval date or after the final claim date
  • Overhead costs and maintenance costs
  • PST, GST, or HST eligible for a rebate, and any other costs eligible for rebates
  • Buying and leasing land or buildings, related real estate fees, and vehicles
  • Financing charges and interest payments on loans; expenses already reimbursed through other sources of funding, federal statutes, or funding programs

How to apply

  • Select the appropriate applicant guide for the type of project you are applying for.
  • Use the required form or proposal template, and any required templates, to prepare a complete application.

Processing and Agreement

  • Incomplete applications may be given 5 business days to submit missing information; otherwise they are rejected and notified by email
  • Once eligibility is confirmed, the project is assessed against the intake criteria, and the results inform funding recommendations submitted to the delegated authority for approval
  • Following the Minister of Transport’s decision, applicants are notified whether their project was selected for funding and selected applicants receive an approval-in-principle letter with the funding amount and any related funding conditions
  • Funding is not provided until both parties sign a contribution agreement, and changes to the project scope, budget, structure, or timelines require a written request and an amendment before they can take effect
  • Once the agreement is in place, payment requests must be submitted at least twice a year with supporting documentation; Transport Canada may also set reporting, financial document, audit, and site visit requirements based on risk

Additional information

  • The program has two funding streams: Infrastructure, Technology and Research, and Education and Awareness.

Contacts

TC.RSIP.ITR-PASF.RTI.TC@tc.gc.ca

Other components of this program

Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) Program

What is the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)?

Transport Canada's Rail Safety Improvement Program provides federal funding for projects that improve safety at high-risk rail crossings and along rail lines. It supports infrastructure, technologies, research, education, and public awareness to reduce collisions, derailments, injuries, and fatalities in the rail network.

How much funding can be received?

Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) program?

To be eligible for the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) program, you must: The project must improve safety at high-risk rail crossings and along rail lines.

What expenses are eligible under Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)?

Grade crossing closures Infrastructure and grade crossing improvements Technology and research projects Education and awareness projects that raise public awareness and understanding of rail safety risks Projects focused on preventing trespassing on railway property

Who can I contact for more information about the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR)?

You can contact Transport Canada (TC) by email at TC.RSIP.ITR-PASF.RTI.TC@tc.gc.ca.

Where is the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) available?

The Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) program is available across Canada.

Is the Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Rail Safety Improvement Program - Infrastructure, Technology and Research (ITR) is a Grant and Funding