(The Chicago Daily Herald posted the following article by Ames Boykin on its website on March 30.)
CHICAGO — In the shadow of train tracks cutting through downtown Des Plaines, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia on Monday reminded people to “look, listen and live.”
They were filming a public service announcement, which will soon air on the city’s cable access station as the first initiative in a citywide railroad safety crackdown announced Monday.
Des Plaines has received a $40,000 federal grant to improve railroad crossing safety.
Plans promoted by the Federal Railroad Administration and Illinois Commerce Commission to keep people safe around train crossings include school presentations and stepping up police patrols near gates.
Illinois has the second-highest number of railroad crossings in the nation. In 2003, trains killed 29 people, officials said.
Since late February, four pedestrians – three under the age of 16 – have been killed by Metra commuter trains in the Chicago area.
Des Plaines has about 30 railroad crossings, which makes it ideal for the program, Durbin said.
“Over time, we start to forget. If you look at accidents … you find some carelessness and negligence. We’re just trying to alert people to the dangers,” Durbin said.
Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and helped start the project to improve safety at railroad crossings.
Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Downers Grove and Macomb were the first Illinois towns to participate in the federal grant railroad safety program. Naperville, Decatur and North Chicago also will participate in the federal program this year.
Last year, Arlington Heights residents became angry when police blocked them from going around crossing gates and they missed trains.
But Des Plaines officials plan to avoid similar problems by educating commuters before the so-called police blitzes.
Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said his department will talk to commuters about train hazards. Police also will give presentations to students.
These initiatives will be launched within a month in Des Plaines and will continue through the summer.
Under state law, pedestrians and drivers who go around gates will face a $250 fine or 25 hours of community service for a first violation and a $500 fine for repeat violations.
Drivers who rack up two or more violations could have their driver’s licenses suspended for at least six months.
Railroad safety officials believe reminding the public that staying aware around crossings is key to saving lives.
Chip Pew, state coordinator for the Operation Lifesaver train safety program, said there were 100 deaths and 800 other train incidents statewide at the time initiatives began 30 years ago. But last year, 29 people were killed by trains in Illinois and 134 incidents were reported, Pew said.
“You’ve got to do something to make people think twice about trying to take a train on,” Pew said.