Operation Lifesaver awards transit-rail safety grants

Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) has awarded $175,000 in grant funds to 10 transit-rail agencies in eight states to increase public awareness of rail safety, the nonprofit education organization announced yesterday.

The 10 agencies to receive grants are Charlotte Area Transit System in North Carolina; Hampton Roads Transit, Virginia; Metro Transit, Minneapolis; Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas; MTA Metro-North Railroad, New York City; Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), San Carlos, California; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink), Los Angeles; SunRail, Sanford, Florida; and Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, Texas.

The grant dollars — provided by the Federal Transit Administration — will be used to pay for transit-rail safety public awareness and to implement safety education projects and campaigns, OLI officials said in a press release.

“These transit agencies will put their grant funding towards campaigns focusing on keeping the public safe when driving or walking near commuter trains, light rail or streetcars,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh.

Grant amounts range from $7,500 to $20,000 and require each agency to provide a 25 percent match. The educational campaigns will use OLI-approved materials and logos and be coordinated through state Operation Lifesaver programs.

Safety campaigns will launch by the fall, Maleh said.