Caltrain takes aim at reducing rail corridor trespassing

Caltrain's board last week adopted a new strategy to improve safety along its rail corridor in California. 

Caltrain's Corridor Right-of-Way Safety (CROWS) strategy applies a data-driven approach to reducing trespassing and preventable tragedies along the corridor, which runs through the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley. Previously, Caltrain implemented safety improvements at specific locations in response to known risks, but the CROWS strategy is the passenger railroad's first plan to standardize and scale safety improvements, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

The strategy calls for Caltrain to conduct and update hazard and risk assessments; enforce antitrespassing laws by increasing police presence, and training local law enforcement on crisis intervention and rail-specific hazards; create and share educational materials on rail crossing safety; reduce physical access to tracks via barriers and increased video monitoring; and update internal standards and procedures for grade crossing development and hazard assessments. 

A presentation about the CROWS strategy is available to view here.