To increase rail safety awareness during September, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Safety staff will be visiting several rail stations passing out safety information, providing safety tips and discussing safety issues around trains and tracks with rail patrons.

The effort coincides with Railroad Safety Month in California established to raise awareness about the importance of proper safety around California railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings.

The Metro Blue, Red, Purple, Expo, Gold and Green line stations will be visited during rush hours, mostly in the morning hours during September.

"Safety has always been Metro's top priority," said Metro Transit Safety Programs Manager Barbara Burns. "Metro has developed a program focused on education, engineering, and enforcement, but we need the public's cooperation. We need them to pay attention to their surroundings, to listen to the sounds, bells and whistles of trains approaching, to look around when they are near the rail tracks."

Metro Safety staff will be at different rail stations throughout the month of September passing out safety information, promoting safety to patrons and responding to questions or providing safety tips while patrons wait for their train.

Metro cautions riders to avoid texting, talking on the phone, or listening to music through headphones near the tracks or on station platforms.