Ten transit agencies to benefit from Operation Lifesaver grants

Rail transit safety campaigns at 10 transit agencies received a funding boost thanks to a grant by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI). The $175,000 in funding was awarded through OLI, but was provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through a partnership the two entities share going back to 2002.  

“FTA is proud to partner with Operation Lifesaver to support innovative rail transit safety awareness efforts in communities across the U.S.,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “Through these grants and outreach efforts like [the U.S. Department of Transportation’s] ‘Stop, Trains Can’t’ Campaign, we are making a difference and saving lives.”

The 10 transit systems awarded funds include: 

• Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Charlotte, N.C., which will launch a two-part campaign focusing on deterring social media influencers, community members and photographers from using the LYNX Blue Line as a photo backdrop, while encouraging community members to be more mindful when driving or walking across a rail grade crossing. The campaign will include train, bus, platform ads, radio ads, social media and community event handouts.

• Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, Va. Hampton Roads Transit’s campaign will use sidewalk clings with safety messages, train wraps, and OLI materials and brochures to raise safety awareness for pedestrians and drivers along their 7.4-mile Norfolk-area light rail corridor. 

• Metro Transit, Minneapolis, Minn. Metro Transit will update their public safety outreach, including billboards, vehicle ads, posters, platform clings, social media and radio ads, with a goal of reducing light rail transit collisions with motorists and pedestrians. 

• Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Houston, Texas. The METRO project goal is to provide education to the Houston community about rail transit safety by distributing approved OLI materials, displaying transit safety messages on portable billboards and promoting rail safety education on social media.

• MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York, N.Y. MTA Metro-North's safety project will include two rail safety initiatives: a customized rail safety vehicle wrap and a rail safety “passport” book. Both initiatives will incorporate the existing OLI “See Tracks, Think Train” campaign messaging.

• Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), San Carlos, Calif. Caltrain will conduct a safety awareness campaign, “You Are Not Faster Than A Train,” including a rail safety video, direct outreach, social media campaigns, brochures, and a podcast.

• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, Pa. SEPTA will use the grant funding to enhance its suicide-prevention campaign aimed at reducing rail suicides among first responders and veterans at risk for suicide. This effort will be undertaken with the Regional Suicide Prevention Task Force of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

• Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles, Calif. Metrolink’s awareness campaign will include geo-fencing display advertising and English and Spanish radio commercials targeted at males ages 18-39 in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

• SunRail, Sanford, Fla. SunRail will use grant funds to launch an interactive mobile safety studio, with a photo booth and special safety-related props to share safety messages and distribute educational materials.

• Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, Texas. Trinity Metro’s campaign consists of two projects: community outreach classes and local events in schools and businesses close to grade crossings and rail lines, along with a social media awareness ad campaign throughout the regional corridor in which Trinity Metro’s two railroads operate.

“These transit agencies will put their grant funding towards campaigns focusing on keeping the public safe when driving or walking near commuter trains, light rail or streetcars,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “We appreciate the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) for its work with increasing visibility and awareness of the rail transit safety grant program. Operation Lifesaver is also very grateful to its safety partners at the FTA for providing the funding.”

OLI says the grant amounts range between $7,500 and $20,000 and require each agency to provide a 25 percent match. The educational campaigns will use OLI-approved materials and logos and be coordinated through state Operation Lifesaver programs. A review panel evaluated the applications based upon criteria such as key safety messages, target audiences and evaluation methods. Safety campaigns will launch by the fall, Maleh noted.