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Burlington Northern Santa Fe May 6 announced that its highway-rail grade-crossing incident rate last year dropped 14 percent compared with 2000. BNSF has lowered its grade-crossing collision rate 45 percent since 1995 from 5.41 collisions per million train miles to 2.91 in 2001.
BNSF last year closed 515 crossings, following 635 crossing closures in 2000. The railroad's 2002 crossing-closure goal is 420.
And to foster public awareness, the Class I last year sponsored more than 5,500 Operation Lifesaver Inc. highway-rail grade-crossing safety classes, including drivers' education courses, truck and school-bus driver sessions, and emergency-response team drills.
"Educating the public about grade-crossing safety laws is our first line of defense in preventing grade-crossing collisions," said Greg Stengem, BNSF vice president, safety, rules and operations support, in a prepared statement.