UP train crew's safety call prompts improvements at California grade crossing

Union Pacific Railroad train crew members' phone call to a safety hotline has led to improvements being made at a railroad crossing in Citrus Heights, California.

After noticing motorists in the area were racing to beat the train at the crossing, UP train crews anonymously reported the worrisome behavior to UP's Safety Hotline, according to a post on the Class I's website. UP contacted Sacramento County and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which has safety oversight of railroads and grade crossings in California, to schedule a diagnostic review of the crossing.

The entities that maintain the grade crossings, such as highway agencies or other local authorities, must apply to the CPUC for permission to alter or improve a grade crossing in California.

After the diagnostic meeting, the CPUC nominated the crossing to receive federal dollars for safety enhancements. The grade crossing was approved for funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s program to eliminate grade crossing hazards. The funding was used to make improvements to the crossing that included streetlights increasing visibility for passing motorists, as well as installation of active crossing lights and gates.