Railroad Safety Teams, MTA Police Host Community Outreach Events at Eight Railroad Crossings
Efforts Coordinated with International Level Crossing Awareness Day
View Photos of LIRR Team
View Photos of Metro-North Team
MTA Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad in partnership with the MTA Police, today stationed teams at eight railroad crossings in the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and Connecticut to raise awareness of the importance of railroad crossing safety for International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD). The activities are part of the railroads’ safety programs known as T.R.A.C.K.S. (Together Railroads and Communities Keeping Safe).
The LIRR and MTA Police staffed crossings in Oceanside, Island Park, Syosset, Hewlett and Central Islip. Metro-North and MTA Police staffed crossings in Peekskill N.Y., Katonah N.Y., and Norwalk Conn., with support from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration. The teams distributed grade crossing safety brochures and materials to drivers at the crossings during the busier commuting hours.
“These outreach efforts help reinforce the message that no one should ever go around lowered crossing gates,” said Metro-North President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi. “Trains can come at any time from either direction and can take a mile or more to stop. It’s not worth risking your life and the safety of others.”
Metro-North and the LIRR have both participated in ILCAD since 2016. ILCAD aims to raise awareness about the dangers associated with the road/rail interfaces known as level crossings or grade crossings. It is a joint global commitment to raise public awareness on the dangers of unsafe behaviors at level crossings. The first European Level Crossing Awareness Day was held on June 25, 2009 with participation in 28 countries, and has since expanded with participation in over 40 countries worldwide.
The LIRR and Metro-North T.R.A.C.K.S. programs are community outreach initiatives to educate people about safety on and near railroad grade crossings and tracks. The programs include delivery of safety presentations on-site to schools, businesses, and community groups; communications campaigns; and resources available through the TRACKS websites, available at these links: LIRR T.R.A.C.K.S. and Metro-North T.R.A.C.K.S.