advertisement

---

Last year, public education, enforcement, employee awareness and closure programs helped Burlington Northern Santa Fe reduce grade crossing collisions 13 percent compared with 2002 data.

The railroad spent more than $84 million to fund educational and other program activities, crossing-signal maintenance and vegetation control, and about $13 million to maintain crossing track and road surfaces.

The same programs played a role during the first quarter as well, when the Class I reduced crossing-related crew injuries and collisions 50 percent and 16 percent, respectively, compared with similar 2003 data. BNSF also closed 107 crossings during the quarter; the Class I's 2004 closure goal is 420 crossings.

The railroad relies on its grade-crossing safety team to help reduce incidents. The team conducts public education seminars (including more than 1,000 Operation Lifesaver classes through April), provides training for local law enforcement, crossing collision investigators and emergency responders, works with community officials to eliminate crossings, and encourages workers to report trespassers or unsafe motorists at crossings.