Feds Call on Local Cops to Police Railroad Grade Crossings

Written by Lanning Taliaferro (Patch Staff)

Federal railroad officials want local police to watch grade crossings in their communities and issue more tickets to drivers who stop on the tracks or otherwise ignore war ning signs and signals.

The FRA is working with the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, spokesman Kevin Thompson said.

It’s the first step the FRA is taking in what it calls a “multi-faceted campaign” for awareness and safety in light of last month’s Metro North crash, when a commuter train collided with an SUV on the tracks at a grade crossing in Mount Pleasant and six people died.

“In addition to this renewed outreach to law enforcement, FRA will take a fresh look at our grade crossing programs and activities,” said Sarah Feinberg, Acting Administrator at the Federal Railroad Administration.

Only one-third of grade crossings in the United States have flashing lights and gates. The Harlem Line crossing had both, and they were working Feb. 3.

RELATED:

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• Harlem Line Tragedy: Safety Systems at Crossing Were Working, Investigators Say
• Phone, E-Mail, Twitter: NTSB, Metro-North Reach Out
• Deadly Train Crash Puts the Spotlight on Metro-North’s Recent Safety Record -- Again
• Car vs. Train Crash, Fire in Valhalla

The next phase of the FRA campaign will include smarter uses of technology, public awareness of grade crossing safety, including distracted driving, improving signage, work closer in partnership with states and local safety agencies, and calling for new funding for greater safety at grade crossings.

Grade-crossing facts from the FRA:

• 239 people were killed and 763 people were injured in grade crossing incidents in 2014.
• In Fiscal Year 2014 the top ten states with the most grade crossing accidents in ranking order include: Texas; California; Illinois; Indiana; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana; Ohio; Florida; Tennessee.
• The FRA, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and State Departments of Transportation have worked together with railroads to close more than 18,000 grade crossings nationwide since 2008.

Upgrades to existing grade crossings are the responsibility of states and local communities, the FRA said.

Here’s the full text of the FRA announcement:

As part of its ongoing effort to improve safety at railroad grade crossings, the Federal Railroad Administration announced Feb. 27 the first step in a new, multi-faceted campaign aimed at strengthening enforcement and safety awareness at grade crossings.

The first phase of this effort calls upon local law enforcement agencies to show a greater presence at grade crossings, issue citations to drivers that violate rules of the road at crossings and consider rapid implementation of best practices for grade crossing safety.

The next phase of FRA’s efforts to improve safety at grade crossings will aim to employ smarter uses of technology, increase public awareness of grade crossing safety, including distracted driving, improve signage, work closer in partnership with states and local safety agencies, and call for new funding for greater safety at grade crossings.

“Recent accidents in New York and California are important reminders of our shared challenge to both educate the public about grade crossing safety, and to enforce appropriate behavior around railroad operations,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Grade crossing and trespassing accidents are serious challenges to maintaining public safety. Every three hours of every day, someone is hit by a train in the United States and we must do all we can to heighten public awareness, strengthen enforcement efforts and pioneer new technologies to better secure public safety.”

There are 250,711 grade crossings in the United States; about 51% of those are public-at-grade crossings. Only half of all public grade crossings have automatic-warning systems and only a third have flashing lights and gates. Approximately 15% of all grade crossings are grade separated – the safest of all crossings - meaning railroad traffic is completely separated from vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

States and localities have traditionally played the most significant role in determining the type of warning system present at grade crossings, with most system decisions determined by traffic levels. Upgrades to existing grade crossings are also the responsibility of states and local communities. Under federal law and regulations, railroads are responsible for inspecting, testing, and maintaining highway-rail grade crossings. The FRA issues and enforces regulations on crossing safety, issues guidance on best practices and conducts research on ways to improve crossings safety.

Additionally, the federal government provides more than $287.9 million annually to states to help improve and enhance safety at public grade crossings.

“The reality is that while the overall number of deaths and injuries from grade crossing incidents has come down significantly over the last two decades, this remains a serious problem. We can and should be doing everything we possibly can to keep drivers, pedestrians, and train crews and passengers safe at grade crossings,” said Sarah Feinberg, Acting Administrator at the Federal Railroad Administration. “In addition to this renewed outreach to law enforcement, FRA will take a fresh look at our grade crossing programs and activities.”

Facts on grade crossings:

• • 239 people were killed and 763 people were injured in grade crossing incidents in 2014.
  • In Fiscal Year 2014 the top ten states with the most grade crossing accidents in ranking order include: Texas; California; Illinois; Indiana; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana; Ohio; Florida; Tennessee.
  • The FRA, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and State Departments of Transportation have worked together with railroads to close more than 18,000 grade crossings nationwide since 2008.