Metra to hold 59 safety blitzes to reinforce safe behavior around tracks
Employees will be at one of the commuter railroad’s 242 stations during the morning commute, distributing educational materials about train and grade crossing safety.
Last year, 47 people were killed and 51 more were injured in incidents at grade crossings or along railroad right-of-way in Illinois.
Douglas Rahden
2 min to read
Last year, 47 people were killed and 51 more were injured in incidents at grade crossings or along railroad right-of-way in Illinois.
Douglas Rahden
Chicago’s Metra will conduct Operation Lifesaver Safety Blitzes at 59 train stations across the six-county region in 2019 as part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around its trains and tracks.
During a safety blitz, Metra safety employees will be at one of the commuter railroad’s 242 stations during the morning commute, distributing educational materials about train and grade crossing safety, answering questions and listening to commuters’ safety concerns. A short video about grade crossing safety is also available for customers to view while they wait for their train. Local police and fire officials are also invited to participate.
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Illinois has the second-largest rail system in the nation with more than 7,300 miles of railroad track and 10,264 public rail crossings. In 2018, Illinois ranked second in the nation in rail fatalities at highway rail crossings and fifth in the nation in trespassing fatalities. Last year, 47 people were killed and 51 more were injured in incidents at grade crossings or along railroad right-of-way in Illinois. Fourteen of these fatalities involved Metra trains. Six of theses fatalities occurred at rail crossings. These numbers do not include deaths ruled as suicides or suspected suicides.
To help promote rail safety awareness and eliminate preventable injuries and deaths, Metra develops an annual schedule of safety blitzes throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
The primary purpose of the safety blitz program is educational. However, the Metra, Police Department will also conduct additional enforcement blitzes at locations throughout the region where citations and warnings will be issued to pedestrians and drivers who ignore gates and warning devices.
The Plan is CTA's formal response to an FTA Special Directive issued in December and details how the agency will significantly expand the law enforcement surge it launched.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
During a safety blitz, Metra employees will visit one of the railroad’s 243 stations during the morning rush hour, distributing educational materials on train and grade-crossing safety, answering questions, and listening to riders’ safety concerns.
Operated in partnership with Tech Valley Security, trained CDTA Ambassadors will be on select routes and will rotate throughout CDTA’s route network. Their presence is intended to provide customers with an approachable, visible resource focused on assistance and engagement.
Customers have always been able to report concerns through the CATS Customer Service line or the “Report a Problem to CATS” feature in the CATS-Pass mobile app; however, CATS has also integrated a Text-a-Tip line, giving riders multiple, easy-to-use channels to get support.
