Operation Lifesaver Funds Rail Safety Campaigns in a Dozen States

May 6, 2026

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Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is awarding $220,200 in grants to fund rail safety awareness campaigns in 12 states, furthering its commitment to reducing preventable collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks.

Together with the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the latter of which provided over $175,000 of the total grant funding, these campaigns will address several topics, including crossing safety and trespass prevention.

Several criteria were evaluated when considering grant recipients, including safety needs and the number of highway-rail collisions and trespass incidents in the state.

Campaigns Target Issues Specific to Certain States

Many of OLI’s state-level campaigns are scheduled to coincide with See Tracks? Think Train® Week, which is scheduled to take place from September 21-27, 2026.

Some of the projects include…

  • Illinois will focus on rail safety education in schools and with community organizations, civic groups, and first responders to help reinforce prevention and shared responsibility around railroad tracks.
  • Maryland will use a targeted public safety campaign to reduce rail-related deaths and serious injuries along some of the state’s commuter rail corridors.
  • North Carolina will launch anoutreach campaign in five communities to reach unhoused communities along and near railroad tracks.
  • Indiana will encourage behavior changes around highway-rail grade crossings and trespassing to reduce rail-related incidents around tracks and trains.
  • Washington will use the FIFA World Cup matches at Lumen Field, located near busy freight, passenger, and commuter rail lines, to conduct a multifaceted rail safety education campaign.

Other projects are planned in California, New Jersey, Ohio, and Missouri.

Help Create Safer Communities Nationwide

A person or vehicle is hit by a train roughly every three hours in the United States, and these projects mark an important step towards changing that reality.

All of us have a role to play in rail safety education and together with Operation Lifesaver, we can work to reduce the number of often-preventable incidents impacting families, railroaders, and communities across the country.

Learn more about the rail safety public awareness campaigns grants ►