Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

While highway-rail crossing collisions are down slightly, deaths and injuries from crossing crashes and pedestrian-train incidents rose in the first four months of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.

Memphis Area Transit Authority; Phoenix, Ariz.’s Valley Metro; Portland, Ore.-based Tri-Met; and Salt Lake City-based Utah Transit Authority’s TRAX will receive funds for rail safety education.

Prevention strategies include expanded educational outreach through OLI and the development of community action plans in concert with greater law enforcement action. Recommendations for railroad station safety include providing audible and visual warnings of approaching trains, station and platform structural improvements and, where feasible, fences to prohibit access to railroad tracks.

The television safety campaign, targeting 18 to 34 year olds and Hispanic viewers, is aimed at preventing vehicle-train tragedies in the Chicago area, where crossing incidents increased in 2010.

Offering classes to nearly 700 public, private and charter schools throughout the state, in an effort to help teen drivers safely operate vehicles near railroad crossings, light rail lines and buses.

Officers from approximately 20 different law enforcement agencies in South Florida will join staff members and volunteers from organizations, including Tri-Rail, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration, in distributing information about train safety.

D.C. transit overwhelmed with inauguration crowds. DART makes staff ride the bus. Federal grant provides $20K for rail safety education.