OLI awards grants for grade-crossing awareness campaigns

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), yesterday announced $200,000 in competitive grade crossing safety awareness grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 10 states.

The FHWA-funded grants will be awarded to OLI organizations in California, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

The grants will be used for a variety of crossing safety public education projects and campaigns, including some that will be conducted during See Tracks? Think Train!^®Week, which will be held Sept. 23-29.

The grants will help expand public outreach and educational efforts, further enhancing safety within a number of communities.

"We are grateful for our enduring partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, which is advancing rail safety education across the United States," said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh in a press release.

The safety of all road users is of paramount importance to the FHWA, said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt.

Yesterday's grant announcement was the second this week for OLI; it also announced $220,000 in competitive rail-safety awareness grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 11 states. Those dollars were issued in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh.