Grade Crossing Safety.
“Rail safety along rights-of-way or at crossings is a shared responsibility of regulatory agencies, railroad owners and operators and the local jurisdictions with streets that cross tracks. Programs such as Metrolink’s industry-leading Sealed Corridor Program, comprehensive grade crossing closures and grade separation programs, in conjunction with education programs such as Operation Lifesaver, will continue to enhance safety and help meet growing demands."
Photo used with the permission of Metrolink.
Ceres: How is Metrolink addressing pedestrian accidents at grade crossings?
Patricia: It depends on the type of strike. We just had a strike recently, and it was determined to be a suicide. We have a team in place that does a lot of awareness campaigns called Operation Lifesaver, and they work with the current guidelines from the federal level to implement safety awareness. If there's a strike near a high-school, for example, they focus on that area. They go out and try to meet with the communities, locally, to ensure that they are aware of the train, and how to be safe around it.
Scott: We, actually, have a safety team that goes out, and conducts some of those efforts, and three of the five members of that safety team are women.
Patricia: Well, Metrolink has about 500 miles of track; we are trying to make Grade Crossing improvements, and trying to develop sealed corridors where we put up more safety and infrastructure around the crossings and around the right of way. Also, we work very closely with the freight partners such as BNSF and Union Pacific, because some of them own the tracks that we travel on, to try to address those issues as well.
All Metrolink material, photos and information used and edited with the permission of Metrolink.
Al Mohymont for Ceres Magazine
No matter, how hard train agencies try to raise awareness on how to avoid accident between trains and pedestrians, it still happens. Majority of these accident could have been easily avoided. Majority are just a miscalculation on how close or fast a train is, or an attempt to race or beat it. DON’T! If you see a train, better lose a few precious minutes than one’s life. However, we will still review, here, a few common-sense guidelines, and awareness programs.
BE TRACK SMART — SIX THINGS TO KNOW
1. Look twice.
Look both ways and listen before crossing the tracks. Expect a train at any time and from either direction.
2. Heads up.
Avoid dangerous distractions such as texting, loud music or headphones that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train.
3. Stand back.
Always stay behind the line at train stations. Enter or exit a station platform at designated areas.
4. Stay off the tracks.
Train tracks, bridges and yards are private property. Never walk, bike, skateboard or run on or along the tracks; it’s illegal and dangerous. Cross only at designated rail crossings.
5. Just wait.
Don't ever try to "beat" a train. An approaching train is closer and moving faster than you think. Wait until the gates are up and lights have stopped
94 - Ceres Magazine - Winter 2016