First national strategy to prevent trespassing on railroad property issued by FRA

The shortest path between two points is a straight line. If a person chooses to follow a straight line across railroad property, the results can be tragic and deadly.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is looking to curb risky behavior around railroad property by issuing the first National Strategy to Prevent Trespassing on Railroad Property to Congress on Feb. 19.

“Almost every trespasser death or injury is preventable and FRA is working to intensify our efforts,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory. “Now that we have examined current data on contributing factors of the problem, we are seeking to energize our state and local partners to implement solutions and save lives.”

The report says previous FRA trespassing prevention programs have not been national or proactive and FRA recognizes the need to do more than educate and facilitate. 

The report examines the causal factors that contribute to trespassing incidents on railroad property, and responds to a U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations request.   

FRA examined trespasser casualties over a four-year period (Nov. 2013 to Oct. 2017) and identified the top 10 counties in the United States where the most pedestrian trespasser casualties occurred (Los Angeles, Calif.; Cook (Chicago), Ill.; San Bernardino, Calif.; Harris (Houston), Texas; Broward, Fla.; Palm Beach, Fla.; Fresno, Calif.; Riverside, Calif.; Contra Costa, Calif.; San Diego, Calif.). The report shows that, excluding suicides, 4,242 pedestrians were killed or injured while trespassing on railroad property nationwide during this time period.

FRA’s National Strategy to prevent trespassing on railroad property includes four strategic focus areas: data gathering and analysis, community site visits, funding and partnerships with stakeholders.

Data gathering and analysis of trespass incidents and close-calls will enable FRA to target its resources to trespassing “hot spots,” such as those 10 counties where the most trespasser casualties occurred. FRA says that conducting community site visits will help it to learn more about the specific local circumstances that contribute to trespassing and work with partners to help implement and evaluate targeted mitigation strategies. Requesting and providing funding will support community-based efforts to deter trespassing. Finally, building strong and enduring partnerships with communities, law enforcement, railroads, and other organizations with a shared interest in saving lives will enable FRA to leverage and concentrate available resources, expertise, and local knowledge to combat trespassing.  

FRA notes that preventing trespasser casualties and injuries is a high priority and is part of the department’s safety mission. In October 2018, FRA convened a Trespasser & Grade Crossing Fatality Prevention Summit at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., where administration officials, key stakeholders from the rail industry, law enforcement and the navigation industry attended the meeting to discuss strategies to reduce grade crossing and trespasser fatalities, as well as to solicit ideas to develop and implement a comprehensive national plan and strategy.

FRA says it looks forward to coordinating and working with all stakeholders to prevent trespassing incidents and this report is an important step forward in the continued effort to improve rail safety.

Short term targets for success include stakeholder engagement and implementation of strategies that save lives at trespassing “hot spots.” Over the long term, FRA will measure the success of this National Strategy by how much trespassing incidents and casualties are reduced nationwide.