Operation Lifesaver announces safety education grants to four transit systems

WASHINGTON, DC, November 2, 2011 – Rail safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI, www.oli.org), today announced that four transit agencies will receive rail safety education grants as part of its partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Transit Agencies selected for grants under the Operation Lifesaver/Federal Transit Administration partnership include:  Memphis, TN Area Transit Authority (MATA); Phoenix, AZ Valley Metro; Portland, OR Tri-Met; and Salt Lake City, UT TRAX. OLI President Helen M. Sramek announced the grants in a speech at FTA’s 15th Annual State Safety Oversight (SSO) meeting here. 

“Even as rail transit remains among the safest modes of transportation in the United States, continued growth in ridership heightens the importance of safety education in our communities,” said Sramek. “We are proud to partner with the Federal Transit Administration on these safety grants.”

Sramek also noted that nine transit agencies have incorporated the Operation Lifesaver “Bad Move” rail-pedestrian safety poster campaign into their public education efforts. The agencies include: Central Arkansas Transit Authority, North Little Rock, AR; Charlotte Area Transit System, NC; WMATA, Washington, DC; Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, OH; Music City Transit, Knoxville, TN; Memphis Area Transit Authority, TN; Cap MetroRail, Austin, TX; Hampton Roads Transit, Norfolk, VA; and Sound Transit, Seattle, WA.

“The ‘Bad Move’ PSA targets people aged 16 to 34 with a message that’s intended to reduce pedestrian-train deaths and injuries,” said OLI President Helen M. Sramek. “These transit agencies have joined our ‘Bad Move’ interactive poster campaign, increasing awareness of the dangers of walking on or near train tracks. As our campaign continues to expand, we are extending the ‘Bad Move’ Write Your Own Ending contest through November 9, 2011 in order to make sure everyone who would like can enter.”

Operation Lifesaver invites people to watch the PSA and three possible endings at http://vimeo.com/channels/badmove, and then submit ideas for an ending to the PSA via email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).   A panel of expert judges will choose the most original ending idea that incorporates a safety message in keeping with the mission of Operation Lifesaver.  

Download a pdf version of the "Bad Move" pedestrian rail safety campaign poster.

Operation Lifesaver (www.oli.org) is a national, non-profit safety education group whose goal is to eliminate deaths and injuries at railroad crossings and along railroad rights of way. It has programs in all 50 states with trained and certified presenters who provide free talks to raise the public’s safety awareness around tracks and trains.

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