Reducing Light Rail
Pedestrian Collisions
M ETRO TRANSIT, SERVING
device. Th e circumstances were
for a two-pronged approach that
the Minneapolis-St. Paul,
varied but there was one theme
Minnesota region, experienced
that emerged: a disregard for active
six collisions in a
warning devices and a lack of
31-day period between December
situational awareness around light
4, 2015 and January
rail grade crossings.
3, 2016, three of which
Metro Transit secured funding
were fatal. Th ere were four
for grade crossing awareness from
pedestrian collisions, one with a
Operation Lifesaver and added
bicycle and one with a mobility
those to its resources to its own
80 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
blended the traditional three E’s of
safety — Engineering, Education
and Enforcement. Th e campaign
highlighted that safety around
trains is a shared responsibility
and made light rail transit more
visible and obvious in its operating
environment.
Public Outreach
During 2016, an aggressive public
outreach campaign was implemented,
which included traditional
media and direct outreach.
Billboards garnered more than
1.25 million impressions, train
ad panels on four trains had more
than 50 million impressions, rolling
stock door stickers had more
than 2 million impressions and
live radio spots had more than
200,000 impressions.
TRAIN ULTRA
super king ad
panels on four
trains had more
than 50 million
impressions and
“See Tracks?
Think Train”
rolling stock door
stickers had more
than 2 million
impressions.
By Michael Conlon
Metro Transit
decreased its
pedestrian collisions
by creating a twopronged
safety
campaign to highlight
safety and improve
visibility around trains.
Photos by Metro Transit