(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, May 13, 2021)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), today announced $200,000 in grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 11 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 20-26, 2021.
Funded by FHWA, the grants will be awarded to Operation Lifesaver organizations in Arizona, California, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington. These state programs will use the funding to launch public awareness campaigns and host community events that deliver critical rail safety tips to target audiences, including motorists of all ages and professional drivers.
“OLI is grateful for our ongoing safety partnership with FHWA, which facilitates these grant-funded railroad crossing safety efforts by state Operation Lifesaver programs,” said OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh. “We are excited to see the results of the projects as we work to stop track tragedies,” she stated.
“The US Department of Transportation is committed to putting safety first, including the safety of those traveling across railroad crossings,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “The FHWA is pleased to provide the funding that will help prevent crashes at rail-grade crossings nationwide.”
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.
Full story: www.oli.org