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12/21/2021
Brightline yesterday announced several initiatives aimed at improving public safety at grade crossings following the relaunch last month of its high-speed passenger-rail service in Florida.
The private, intercity passenger railroad is investing in safety measures focused on technology, enforcement, engineering and education, Brightline officials said in a press release.
Recent initiatives have included the following:• Brightline and technology providers are testing intrusion detection via red-light cameras along sections of the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale corridor. An additional $450,000 investment toward research and development of the pilot will be made in 2022.• Brightline is involved in a red light camera pilot project in North Miami with NovoaGlobal’s Railroad-Safe™ technology, a railroad crossing safety solution to prevent rail-related fatalities by warning and educating drivers about illegal actions, such as failing to heed railroad warning signals.• Brightline partnered with the nonprofit Community Greening on a project to plant more than 3,000 native trees and shrubs along the South Florida railway. Combined with fencing, the native plants will cover more than 10 miles along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway corridor serving as a deterrent and channelization mechanism for trespassers.• Brightline received a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant to fund additional safety infrastructure at 48 crossings between Miami and West Palm Beach. This $5.6 million program will add exit gates, digital warning signs, striping and delineators to crossings.• Brightline President Patrick Goddard presented 211 with a $43,000 donation to be distributed across the organization’s Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach/Treasure Coast chapters to bring attention to mental health wellness.• The North Miami Beach Police Department and Brightline last week hosted a public service announcement to reinforce the importance of safety at crossings.