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The Federal Railroad Administration recently granted $1 million to Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) to help fund public education and awareness programs on grade-crossing safety and railroad trespassing.

Since its inception more than 30 years ago, the non-profit safety organization has partnered with rail industry stakeholders, and public health and safety constituents to prevent fatalities. In 1972, the number of train-vehicle collisions exceeded 12,000 annually; last year, that figure dropped to 2,919.

"Operation Lifesaver helped achieve dramatic improvements in grade-crossing safety and trespass prevention," said FRA Administrator Allan Rutter in a prepared statement. "This investment of taxpayer dollars leverages countless hours of volunteer effort in communities across the country to keep families safe."

FRA is OLI's primary sponsor; the Federal Highway and Transit administrations also provide funding.