New York's MTA kicks off rail safety effort

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) yesterday formed a partnership to promptot safety at MTA Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) grade crossings.

MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast and OLI President and CEO Joyce Rose signed a memorandum of understanding that outlined resource sharing agreements, MTA officials said in a press release.

Their first initiative is an advertising campaign that will run on television, in movies, in newspapers, online and on outdoor signs.

The MTA also launched a new safety-focused section of its website. The agency will promote its message on social media through the hashtag #MTASafety.

"The MTA Police and local jurisdictions throughout our region have done tremendous work stepping up enforcement, and our railroads are in continuous discussions with DOTs and our partner communities to improve engineering. Today, we enter a new phase of our successful partnership built around education," said Prendergast.

The ad campaign, which launched yesterday, includes five outdoor sign advertisements and three videos that promote rail safety.

"Our new partnership with MTA is a great opportunity for both organizations to build on past safety efforts and create initiatives that will reverse the recent increase in rail crossing collisions and deaths." added Rose. "Together, we can help empower the people of New York to keep themselves safe."