Caltrain is working to develop and promote new strategies for encouraging safe behavior around its railroad tracks following a recent series of incidents in which vehicles illegally stopped at rail crossings and caused collisions with oncoming trains.
Three of the seven vehicle collisions this year have occurred in Burlingame. Two of the incidents occurred at Broadway Avenue and a third took place at Bayswater Avenue. The circumstances for each incident vary, two involved drivers unfamiliar with the area, and in one case the driver was unlicensed, another was a hit and run where the vehicle operator left the scene.
While the nature of these incidents makes them difficult to prevent, what’s clear is that more can be done to warn drivers as they approach the tracks to take extra precautions.
“Our first responsibility is to the safe operation of rail service. Running 92 trains per day on a corridor with more than 40 roadway crossings presents a unique set of challenges. Those challenges have become more difficult with increased traffic congestion and more drivers, cyclists and pedestrians crossing our tracks on a daily basis,” said Jim Hartnett, Executive Director, Caltrain. “We are responding to recent events by increasing the visibility of our law enforcement presence at key crossings along our corridor and redoubling our outreach and education efforts to make drivers more aware of the extra caution needed when driving near active railroad tracks. At the same time we are working with local cities to explore engineering and traffic management solutions.”
Some of those solutions are being pursued right away. At Broadway Avenue, Caltrain is working with the city to add pavement striping to the existing gates and signals to make clear to drivers the limits that should be observed on both sides of the tracks to avoid a collision with a train.
Caltrain is also working with the city to explore improved signal timing for drivers waiting at the Rollins Road signal. Traffic at that light, east of the railroad tracks, can back up causing some drivers to illegally block the tracks in an attempt to make the signal cycle. According to Caltrain engineers, this problem may be exacerbated by the ongoing interchange construction at Broadway Avenue and Highway 101.
At Bayswater Avenue in Burlingame, the rail operator is also exploring improved pavement striping to more clearly define the track limits.
In the interim, Caltrain is planning to increase law enforcement visibility during periods of heavy congestion to warn drivers to stay off the tracks and issue citations to those that violate this law.
Next Steps
The agency is taking steps to address the impact these incidents have on customers. It can be challenging to restore service as quickly as we would like due to the circumstances surrounding the particular incident. Sometimes the delays to service restoration are a result of heavy traffic, which prevents additional crews, tow trucks, coroners or other team members from reaching the scene quickly when trains are stopped in both directions. Delays can be further exacerbated when rail equipment, gates or signals have been damaged in the collision. In locations on the corridor where a third track is available its possible for Caltrain to quickly move the affected equipment off the mainline and continue service but often service is initially restored using “single tracking.” Single tracking refers to using one track to operate trains in both directions through a limited area.
Caltrain is conducting a full review of its protocols for restoring service following a disruption and ensuring customers receive timely, accurate information throughout the event. The agency plans to roll out recommendations for streamlined processes in the coming months. The recommendations will include strategies for improving onboard and platform communication with customers throughout the event.
Caltrain is also using its #CaltrainSafe hashtag on social media to offer tips on safe driving behaviors. The agency will work with other local police departments on social media to help spread the message. Follow Caltrain on Facebook or on Twitter @Caltrain_News for details.
This year Caltrain has struggled to address another community-wide issue that has serious impacts for the agency, its employees and its customers. According to preliminary investigations, there has been an increased number of fatalities resulting from intentional acts on the corridor in 2015.
In response, Caltrain continues to work closely with the mental health community in all three counties through which it operates to fund and conduct suicide prevention and awareness efforts. The agency has sponsored symposiums on the subject, brought in experts studying the issues to provide research and feedback, worked with communities to develop grassroots solutions that include improving “means restriction” by adding fencing and conducting a pilot project to put video cameras at a key location to monitor activity.
But each life lost is still hard to accept and Caltrain continues to seek partnerships with the mental health community that can help to address the root causes of depression and mental illness, both of which are factors that contribute to suicidal behavior.
