AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Support Annual Railroad Safety Campaign

Various state departments of transportation recently provided support to the latest national railroad safety campaign; a yearly endeavor spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. or OLI, along with comparative efforts by Operation Lifesaver Canada and the Mexican Association of Railroads in their respective countries.

[Above image by OLI]

Now known as “See Tracks? Think Train® Week” in the United States and as “Rail Safety Week” in Canada and Mexico, the goal of this annual campaign – held in late September this year – is raising awareness, promoting rail safety education, and ultimately saving lives.

“We’re highlighting the critical importance of making safe choices around railroad tracks and trains,” said Rachel Maleh, OLI’s executive director, in a statement.

“Our daily themes [during the campaign] emphasize crossing safety for drivers, trespass prevention for pedestrians, safe practices for transit riders, partnerships with first responders and more,” she explained. “This annual initiative unites safety advocates across North America to share in our common goal of saving lives [as] everyone has a role in making our communities safer.”

Several state DOTs in the U.S. participated in the 2024 rail safety campaign in a variety of ways.

For example, the Florida Department of Transportation launched the Florida Rail Safety Coalition or FRSC in September; a group that brings together rail industry partners to develop strategic solutions in infrastructure enhancements, innovative technology, and behavioral science research to reduce the likelihood of rail collisions and related fatalities and serious injuries across the state.

“For decades, Florida has served as a national leader in the implementation of innovative rail safety initiatives, and the establishment of the FRSC is yet another example of how we’re leading the way towards a safer transportation future,” said Jared Perdue, Florida DOT secretary, in a statement.

“[The FRSC will] work together to deliver solutions focused on preventing tragedies on our rail network, we urge all Floridians to play their part by understanding the life-changing consequences of unsafe behaviors around trains and tracks,” he added. “Together, we can get everyone home safely.”

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Department of Transportation put together a series of informational videos to provide the public with a plethora of rail-related safety information, such as the importance of railroad signs.

And the Connecticut Department of Transportation held a public safety event in conjunction with OLI to underscore the importance of rail crossing safety; noting that, in Connecticut from 2019 to 2023, 16 vehicles were struck by trains, resulting in 22 injuries.

Over that same time period, there were 54 rail incidents involving pedestrians, resulting in 10 injuries and 46 fatalities, the agency said.

“Railroad safety is crucial as Connecticut’s extensive rail network has hundreds of active crossings,” noted Laoise King, CTDOT’s deputy commissioner, in a statement.

“We remind the public that the road is closed when the red lights are on and the gates are down,” King said. “Drivers and pedestrians should stop and wait for the train to pass and should never try to cross or outrun a train.”