Wednesday, July 25, 2007 (Washington, DC) Continuing efforts to reduce collisions between trains and motor vehicles at grade crossings and discourage illegal trespassing on railroad tracks, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is providing a $1 million grant to Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a national non-profit railroad safety education organization, announced FRA Deputy Administrator Cliff Eby.

“Understanding the dangers on, along and near railroad tracks is the best way to help people avoid needless risks,” said Eby. He added that approximately ninety six percent of rail-related deaths in America are the result of grade crossing collisions and trespassing on railroad property.

The FRA grant will be used to support Operation Lifesaver’s educational and training programs across the U.S. Operation Lifesaver is providing $338,332 in matching funds, Eby said.

The federal funding will be used for Operation Lifesaver’s States Assistance Program, which provides up to 50 grants to state organizations that manage railroad safety awareness programs, Eby said. In addition, the funds will support training programs such as regional workshops developed for Operation Lifesaver’s 3,000 volunteer trainers and presenters, communications programs, and publications including development and distribution of public service announcements.

Among the new initiatives slated for the coming year is targeted outreach to Hispanic and Latino communities. And, in response to the growing number of trespass incidents, Operation Lifesaver is reviewing all of its training and educational materials to emphasize trespass prevention efforts in public outreach programs.

Eby made the announcement before boarding a special Operation Lifesaver train in Roanoke, VA., carrying local law enforcement officers as part of an educational program and a focused effort to ticket anyone trespassing on the tracks or violating traffic safety laws by ignoring grade crossing warning devices.

The grant announced today augments comprehensive efforts under the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s 2004 Action Plan for Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2005 National Rail Safety Action Plan. Both plans provide a roadmap for guiding federal, state, local, industry and other efforts to combat these problems.