Operation Lifesaver, Inc. awards $200,000 for crossing safety public awareness campaigns in 14 states
WASHINGTON, DC, April 24, 2020 – Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), today announced $200,000 in grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 14 states. The grants will fund a variety of highway-rail grade crossing safety public education projects, many of which will be conducted in conjunction with the nonprofit safety group’s observance of Rail Safety Week, September 21-27, 2020.
Funded by FHWA, the grants will be awarded to Operation Lifesaver organizations in Arizona, California, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,andWashington. These state programs will use the funding to launch public awareness campaigns and host community events that deliver critical safety tips to target audiences, including motorists of all ages and professional drivers.
“OLI is grateful to our safety partners at FHWA for making these grant-funded activities and events possible,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “The outreach projects will raise awareness of the need for caution near highway-rail grade crossings. Our goal is to inform drivers, reduce preventable crossing collisions and stop track tragedies,” she stated.
The approved grants were awarded through a competitive process, with selection based on criteria such as the defined safety need, the number of highway-rail collisions in the state, and how the proposal leverages federal funds with private partnerships.
“Safety on American roads – including those that cross railroad tracks – is our top priority,” said Federal Highway Administrator Nicole R. Nason. “We are proud to partner with Operation Lifesaver in a data-driven effort to keep rail-grade crossings safe for the traveling public.”
About Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public safety education and awareness organization dedicated to reducing collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and preventing trespassing on or near railroad tracks. A national network of trained volunteers gives free presentations on rail safety and a public awareness campaign, “See Tracks? Think Train!” provides tips and statistics to encourage safe behavior near the tracks. OLI leads an international observance of Rail Safety Week each September. Learn more about Rail Safety Week; follow OLI on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.
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