Leaders Warn on Railroad Trespassing in Ann Arbor

After a long winter, temperatures are finally starting to warm up, signaling the start of spring. With that, folks will be outside enjoying outdoor activities like walking, jogging, bicycling, and canoeing. In the Ann Arbor area, there are recreational trails, the Huron River, fishing spots, and parks located along railroad tracks owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and operated by Amtrak. To access some of these popular recreational locations, people may take shortcuts and cross the tracks at unsafe locations.

Amtrak trains operating on this segment of track can operate at speeds up to 70 miles per hour. Trains cannot stop quickly or swerve like an automobile. It can take a train a mile or so to stop. People walking on or along the track may not hear the train until it is too late.

In Michigan, four people were killed and one person was injured in trespassing incidents in 2014. Across the United States, the Federal Railroad Administration reports that 476 people were killed and 432 injured in trespassing incidents in 2013.

MDOT, Amtrak, and Operation Lifesaver of Michigan want to remind people not to trespass on railroad property. Not only is it illegal, but it can cost you your life. Avoid taking risky shortcuts across the tracks. Only safely cross at authorized locations marked with the standard railroad crossing signs, signals, or gates. Trespassers caught on railroad property will be ticketed or arrested by law enforcement. Trespassing is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine up to $100, or both. Stay safe and alive around all railroad tracks.