Transportation Leaders Come Together in Los Angeles to Launch California Railroad Safety Week, September 8-14

LOS ANGELES--Sept. 8, 2003--

Rail Organizations Cite Public Safety as Priority #1 and Unveil New Measures to Educate Motorists and Pedestrians and Prevent Rail-Crossing Fatalities

With schools back in session and people returning from vacations, Metrolink and rail operators throughout California are reminding drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution around railroad crossings and along railroad tracks. To emphasize this point, Metrolink is launching a dramatic new Public Service Announcement that urges drivers not to "turn a minute's wait at the gate into eternity."

"Rail safety is everyone's responsibility," says Metrolink board chair Bill Alexander. "It's something Metrolink takes very seriously, and we need the public to take it just as seriously. Stopping on the tracks, walking on the tracks, driving around a crossing gate -- these actions are not only dangerous, they are illegal. Yes, they may only be misdemeanors, but they can still carry the death penalty."

In 2002 there were 140 incidents at highway-rail crossings in California, resulting in 30 fatalities. That same year there were also 90 trespasser fatalities along California's railroads.

In addition to its new Public Service Announcement (produced in both English and Spanish), Metrolink is taking other steps to increase awareness about the dangers around railroad tracks. These include increased school- and community-based education, putting up 700 safety billboards along its Antelope Valley Line corridor, and installing 1,200 new safety signs at railroad crossings and along its rights-of-way, warning trespassers about the dangers -- and the laws against -- walking on the tracks.

Beginning Sept. 15, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will launch its own safety campaign entitled "Safety Begins with Me." Consisting of bus, rail, billboard and newspaper advertising and safety education in local schools, the campaign encourages everyone to take personal responsibility for their own safety. Messages in the "Safety Begins With me" campaign include: "I Always Wait for Gates," "I Never Run from Trains," "I Never Play Near the Tracks" and "I Always Use the Crosswalk."

"As the operator of 73 miles of Metro Rail service throughout Los Angeles County, MTA recognizes the importance of rail safety and has made it a top agency priority," said Roger Snoble, MTA CEO. "We have implemented many safety measures to help prevent rail accidents, but our efforts can be rendered useless if everyone doesn't do their part to stay clear of trains, train tracks and crossing gates. Safety is a personal responsibility, and it begins with you."

"The focus of California Railroad Safety Week is to remind drivers and pedestrians to make safe decisions at railroad crossings and around railroad tracks, and to respect all traffic laws relating to crossing signs and signals," said Alexander. "'Look, Listen and Live' is not just a slogan -- it saves lives."

Metrolink and the members of the Southern California Rail Safety Team offer safety outreach program to schools and other community organizations throughout the year. To request a safety presentation for a school or group, please call (800) 371-LINK (5465).

RAIL SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVERS:

-- Never drive around lowered gates -- it's illegal and deadly.

-- Never race a train to the crossing -- even if you tie, you lose.

-- Do not get trapped on the tracks. Only proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping.

-- If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, immediately get everyone out and far away from the tracks.

-- At a multiple track crossing waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a second train on the other tracks, approaching in either direction.

-- Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive engineer sees you, a freight train moving at 55 miles per hour can take a mile or more to stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That's at least 18 football fields!

-- Do not be fooled by the optical illusion -- the train you see is closer and faster moving than you think. If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.

-- ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN! Freight trains do not follow set schedules.

RAIL SAFETY TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS:

-- Do not walk, run, cycle or operate all terrain vehicles (ATVs) on railroad tracks or rights-of-way or through tunnels.

-- Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings. Observe and obey all warning signs and signals.

-- Do not hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad trestles. They are not designed to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges -- there is only enough clearance on the tracks for a train to pass.

-- Do not attempt to hop aboard railroad equipment at any time. A slip of the foot can cost you a limb, or your life.

-- REMEMBER: Rails and recreation do not mix!

For more rail safety tips, visit the Metrolink website at www.metrolinktrains.com or the Operation Lifesaver website at www.oli.org.

MTA, one of the largest public transportation agencies in the United States, provides more than 75% of all public transit services in Los Angeles County. It operates the Metro Bus System, which consists of more than 2,000 peak hour buses that serve a 1,433 square mile area. MTA also operates the 73-mile Metro Rail System, which includes the Metro Red Line subway and the Metro Gold, Blue and Green light rail lines. As the region's primary transportation planner and programmer, MTA also funds such programs as paratransit services, bikeways, street and freeway improvements and the Metro Freeway Service Patrol.

Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service and is in its eleventh year of operations. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink continues to be one of the nation's fastest-growing commuter rail services, operating over seven routes through a six-county network with 512 total route miles.