Operation Lifesaver, FTA Announce Rail Transit Safety Education Grants
WASHINGTON, DC, February 25, 2013 – Operation Lifesaver, Inc., (OLI, www.oli.org), in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA, www.fta.dot.gov), announces that grant funds are available to transit agencies and other governmental entities for rail transit safety education and public awareness initiatives.
“Passenger rail and transit are experiencing ridership growth,” said Joyce Rose, President and CEO of Operation Lifesaver. “These FTA-funded grant projects help our state programs work with local transit agencies and government organizations to make a difference in rail safety in their communities.”
FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said, "The Federal Transit Administration is pleased to partner with Operation Lifesaver because as rail transit expands in communities across the country, it is essential that drivers and pedestrians have the education they need to remain safe near trains, tracks, and at crossings."
Rose noted that grant amounts range from $20,000-$25,000 and require a 25 percent match, either as in-kind services or non-federal cash. Projects must be focused on safety education or public awareness initiatives in communities with rail transit systems (commuter rail, light rail, and streetcar). OLI-approved materials and OLI logos must be used, and all grants must be coordinated through state Operation Lifesaver programs. The deadline for grant proposals is June 30, 2013.
Examples of previously funded grants include New Jersey Transit’s outreach to schools to raise teen driver awareness about safe driving around light rail trains or buses; a safety campaign in the Atlanta area targeting distracted drivers with bus taillight displays and posters on Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority trains; and an Austin, Texas Capitol Metro community safety blitz in advance of new commuter rail service.
“Operation Lifesaver is grateful to our federal partners for their ongoing safety leadership,” Rose concluded.
The grant announcement and grant application guidelines (PDF format) are available online.
For more information on the rail transit safety education grants, contact Cathy Gillen, OLI National Transit Safety Education Consultant, phone (443) 463-4449 or email cathy@cathygillen.com.
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. 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. Operation Lifesaver has programs in all 50 states, with trained volunteers who provide free safety talks to community groups, school bus drivers, truck drivers and student drivers to raise awareness of the dangers around railroad tracks and trains. For more information, or to request a free safety presentation, visit www.oli.org, or follow OLI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/operation.lifesaver, Twitter: @olinational, and Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/olinational/.
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