National Campaign Aims to Educate Public About Safety Around Trains and Tracks; Runs from Sept. 19 Through Sept. 25
Metro-North Launching Annual Rail Safety Week Poster Contest
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad today announced a series of events surrounding National Rail Safety Week, which aims to raise awareness of rail safety and empower the general public to keep themselves safe around stations, highway-rail grade crossings and railroad rights-of-way. Participation in the national week-long education campaign is part of the MTA Railroads’ TRACKS (Together Railroads And Communities Keeping Safe) programs, the safety education programs led by the LIRR and Metro-North safety departments to reach out to customers and neighbors in the communities they serve, including schools, camps, day care facilities, and community groups.
“Providing a safe experience for our riders and the communities we serve is our top priority,” said Metro-North President and Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi. “National Railroad Safety Week is a chance for us to remind the public about the importance of the need for being safe around railroads.”
In addition to railroad employees and members of the MTA Police Department, Metro-North and LIRR will be joined by representatives from the New York State and Connecticut Departments of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Operation Lifesaver, and from the Suicide Response Crisis Center.
The public is encouraged to wear red on Friday, Sept. 23, for “Red Out for Rail Safety Day” and post photos on social media using #MNRTracks and tagging @LIRR. Metro-North’s TRACKS mascot, Metro-Man, will be in Grand Central Terminal during the day to meet customers.
More information on the events can be found below.
Metro-North Railroad
On Monday, Sept. 19, Metro-North volunteers will be at the following stations to promote rail safety to all customers:
- Scarsdale: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Riverdale: 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Port Chester: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Botanical Gardens: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Beacon: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Cos Cob: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Stamford: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Metro-North volunteers will be at the following grade-crossing locations to promote rail and grade-crossing safety to both pedestrians and drivers:
- Brewster Station (Brewster, N.Y.): 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Valhalla Station (Valhalla, N.Y.): 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Division St (New Haven, Conn.): 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- Crescent St (Stamford, Conn.): 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
- East Central Ave (Pearl River, N.Y.): 7 a.m. to. 9 a.m.
On Thursday, Sept. 22, Metro-North will have a table set up at Grand Central Terminal from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Customers can play games and win prizes while learning how to be safe around trains, tracks and grade crossings. Metro-North is also launching this year’s Rail Safety Week poster contest.
And on Saturday, Sept. 24, Metro-North will be at Suffern Day at the Suffern Ballfield Complex on Ramapo Avenue between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Long Island Rail Road
LIRR employees will be at the following stations throughout the week to promote rail safety to all customers:
- Hewlett: Monday, Sept. 19 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Farmingdale: Tuesday, Sept. 20 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Deer Park: Wednesday, Sept. 21 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Ronkonkoma: Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Stony Brook (joined by representatives from the Long Island Response Crisis Center): Friday, Sept. 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.