CTA introduces rail safety campaign

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) launched a new informational campaign reminding “L” riders about the dangers of trespassing on CTA railroad tracks.

The campaign, with the tagline “Stay Off the Tracks, It’s Not Worth Your Life,” features a series of messages highlighting the dangers of activities such as trying to retrieve items dropped onto the tracks, standing too close to the edge of a platform, or trespassing along the railroad right of way.

“Safety has always been and will always be our No. 1 priority, in every facet of our operations,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “We created the campaign as an important reminder to our customers, and we believe it will help further promote safe behavior on our rail system.”

Customers who enter CTA tracks, known as the rail right of way, face not only the danger of oncoming trains, but also that of the third rail, which carries 600 volts of electricity used to propel trains — a level of electricity that is almost always lethal.

In 2012, CTA received more than 300 reports of customers entering the right of way, ranging from riders jumping off a platform to pick up a dropped mobile phone to trespassers walking on tracks between stations. The vast majority involve people making a conscious decision to go on the tracks, officials said.

This latest campaign complements CTA’s existing rail safety information, including signs along the tracks, at every rail station and in every railcar, as well as safety brochures, website information and other materials. “

The new safety campaign’s car cards and posters will appear on railcars and at rail stations throughout the CTA system and also be used on digital signs at stations.