Operation Lifesaver Awards Rail Safety Grant Funding to 10 Transit Agencies
WASHINGTON, DC, July 10, 2019 - Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is pleased to announce it has awarded $175,000 in grant funds to 10 rail transit agencies in eight states to increase rail transit safety public awareness and implement safety education projects and campaigns.
The selected grantees of the funding include:
- Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Charlotte, N.C.
- Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, Va.
- Metro Transit, Minneapolis, Minn.
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Houston, Texas
- MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, N.Y.
- Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), San Carlos, Calif.
- Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, Pa.
- Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles, Calif.
- SunRail, Sanford, Fla.
- Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, Texas
“These transit agencies will put their grant funding towards campaigns focusing on keeping the public safe when driving or walking near commuter trains, light rail or streetcars,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “We appreciate the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for its work with increasing visibility and awareness of the rail transit safety grant program. Operation Lifesaver is also very grateful to its safety partners at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for providing the funding.”
“FTA is proud to partner with Operation Lifesaver to support innovative rail transit safety awareness efforts in communities across the U.S.,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “Through these grants and outreach efforts like USDOT’s ‘Stop, Trains Can’t’ Campaign, we are making a difference and saving lives.”
The winning rail transit agencies will use their funds to create and launch several public awareness and education campaigns focused on the importance of safe behavior around rail transit systems. Educational materials and community-based events will take place in states across the country, with the use of portable billboards, platform ads, radio ads, and social media outreach, demonstrating and encouraging rail transit safety among the general public.
The grant amounts range between $7,500 and $20,000 and require each agency to provide a 25 percent match. The educational campaigns will use OLI-approved materials and logos and be coordinated through state OL programs. A review panel evaluated the applications based upon criteria such as key safety messages, target audiences and evaluation methods. Safety campaigns will launch by the fall, Maleh noted.
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at railroad crossings and preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks. A national network of trained volunteers and state coordinators give free presentations on rail safety and a public awareness campaign, “See Tracks? Think Train!” provides tips and statistics to encourage safe behavior near the tracks. OLI leads an international observance of Rail Safety Week each September. Learn more about Rail Safety Week; follow OLI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
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