Quarterly Newsletter

On June 3rd , Operation Lifesaver partnered with Union Pacific during the Big Boy locomotive display in West Chicago. Thanks to the dedication of our Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteers (OLAVs), we reached thousands of visitors and encouraged more than 700 people to take the Rail Safety Pledge.

The event, which celebrated 250 years of our great nation, was a tremendous success and provided a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the importance of rail safety while showcasing one of America’s most iconic locomotives.

Thank you to all of our OLAVs who volunteered their time and energy to make this event such a success. Your dedication to educating the public and promoting rail safety made a lasting impact.

Illinois Operation Lifesaver had a successful ENS Awareness Day, June 24th, reaching more than 5,000 people directly throughout the Chicagoland area through safety blitzes hosted by our partners at The Belt Railway Company of Chicago, BNSF Railway, and Metra.

We also conducted in-person outreach to bus and trucking companies throughout Central Illinois, providing educational materials and raising awareness about the blue-and-white Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs located at railroad crossings.

With generous support from OLAV Fred Biederman, Chicago television network, WGN aired Operation Lifesaver’s “Find the Blue and White” video, helping educate the public about the ENS sign and reaching more than half a million viewers.

Thank you to all our partners for helping make ENS Awareness Day a success and for supporting our mission to improve rail safety across Illinois.

llinois Operation Lifesaver invites you to join us in observing Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day on June 24, 2026.ENS Sign Awareness Day is dedicated to helping the public and first responders recognize and understand the vital role of the blue and white Emergency Notification System signs posted at railroad crossings. These signs provide critical information that allows individuals to quickly report issues or emergencies at rail crossings, helping prevent incidents and saving lives.

We encourage your organization/ group to plan and host your own local awareness activities on June 24. A comprehensive ENS Sign Awareness Day toolkit with graphics, messaging, and outreach materials is available at OLI.ORG to assist your teams with planning and promotion.

If you are interested in participating, please share the time and location of your planned activities via [email protected] so we can help coordinate volunteer support and amplify your efforts across Illinois.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to rail safety.

Illinois Operation Lifesaver (IL OL) recently added 17 newly authorized volunteers expanding its statewide outreach efforts. The group includes a CTA bus driver, retired Metra employees, and members of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Railway Businesswomen (NARBW), all bringing valuable transportation experience and a shared commitment to rail safety. Together, they support ILOL’s mission to promote safe behavior around railroad tracks and crossings and help reduce rail-related incidents across Illinois. 

Illinois Operation Lifesaver (IL OL) extends sincere thanks to everyone who supported and participated in rail safety efforts throughout 2025. Your dedication and service were essential to advancing our mission and ensuring rail safety education continued to reach communities across Illinois.

This year marked significant progress through new and successful partnerships with Illinois railroad museums statewide. By hosting banner displays and informational tables at seasonal museum events, IL OL expanded public awareness and connected with new audiences in engaging, community-focused settings.

In 2025, IL OL also launched the state program–funded “I Witnessed” four-part rail safety video series, strengthening safety education through real-world storytelling. Additionally, IL OL partnered with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) presenting to over 10,000 employees and safety managers, who became Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteers. These trained rail safety experts will continue sharing rail safety messages with IDOT employees who work alone along Illinois’ railways.

These accomplishments reflect the commitment, professionalism, and passion of our volunteers and partners. Together, you made 2025 a year of meaningful impact and progress for rail safety across the state.

IL OL is advancing rail safety education through “I Witnessed,” a powerful, four-part video series that brings rail safety messages to life through first-hand experiences. The series features the voices of a bereaved mother, a freight conductor, a locomotive engineer, and a survivor of a rail incident—sharing real stories that underscore the serious and lasting impact of unsafe behavior around trains and tracks.

To amplify this message, IL OL is seeking funding to broadcast the :15- and :30-second versions of the videos on television networks across Illinois. Television placement will allow these compelling stories to reach millions of viewers, reinforcing life-saving rail safety awareness statewide.

Donations directly support broadcast airtime, expand public education, and help prevent rail-related injuries and fatalities. Every contribution helps move proven safety messages from screens into communities where they can make a difference.

As we begin 2026, IL OL proudly marks a significant milestone—30 years of advancing rail safety across our state. Since our incorporation on March 27, 1996, IL OL has spent three decades empowering communities with life-saving rail safety education. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, we have worked together to educate the public, prevent tragedies on the tracks, and save lives.

This anniversary is a powerful reflection of the commitment, passion, and perseverance that have shaped our mission over the past 30 years. It is a time to honor where we’ve been, celebrate the impact we’re making today, and look ahead with purpose—continuing our work to ensure Illinois remains safer around trains and tracks for generations to come.