Skip to main content

National Rail Safety Week kick-off event with special guest speakers Sept. 23 in East Lansing

CONTACT: Michael Frezell, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-281-6519, FrezellM@Michigan.gov; Sam Crowl, Michigan Operation Lifesaver state coordinator, 248-980-4636, samcrowl@comcast.net

WHAT:
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Michigan Railroads Association, Operation Lifesaver, Inc., Canadian National (CN) Railroad, and CSX Transportation will kick off national Rail Safety Week to promote safety around the railroad tracks with speeches and informational displays, as well as show safety improvements to the nearby CN railroad crossing on Harrison Road. The public and media are encouraged to help raise rail safety awareness by using the hashtag #RailSafetyWeek on social media.

WHO:
Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Okemos
Sam Crowl, Operation Lifesaver state coordinator
Mario Kakos, Associated Students of Michigan State University student body president
State and local officials 
Law enforcement officers
Railroad officials
Interested public
Media

WHEN:
11 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 23, 2019

WHERE:
Capital Area Multimodal Gateway
1240 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, MI 48823

BACKGROUND:
It happens every three hours in the United States: a person or vehicle is struck by a train. When this tragedy occurs, lives are changed forever. To raise awareness of the dangers of being on or around railroad tracks, Rail Safety Week is happening this year from Sept. 22 to 28.

This kick-off event is being spearheaded by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other safety organizations.

Activities are being planned each day during the week to share lifesaving messages throughout our communities. By working together on raising railroad safety awareness, we can save lives.