BNSF News

Grade-Crossing Safety Emphasized in Joint Enforcement Operations

2009-11-30

BNSF joined with police and highway patrol officers in Riverside, Calif., and Flagstaff, Ariz., to provide enforcement events that emphasize the importance of grade-crossing safety.

In Riverside, 149 enforcement contacts were made and 136 citations were issued. Two vehicles were towed, and 11 trespassers were arrested.

"These events are important because they provide us an opportunity to support police in their efforts to educate the community," said Steve Neubauer, director, Field Safety Support. "This particular event was an effective way for teams to contact individuals in vehicles as well as on foot. Trespassers are a concern for us because fatalities can result if trespassers are in the wrong place at the wrong time."

BNSF joined forces with Union Pacific in this effort. "We try to help each other when it comes to these enforcement events," said Scott Rust, BNSF senior special agent, San Bernardino, Calif. "When the UP has enforcement events in Ontario, Calif., BNSF is there to ensure there is enough coverage. Since our tracks run parallel to each other in parts of Riverside, it benefits both railroads to work enforcement events together."

The same day on the Southwest Division, BNSF Resource Protection conducted an Officer on the Train event in Flagstaff.

"We don't have the population of Southern California, but we get the message out to as many as we can," said Hank Simmons, senior special agent, Flagstaff.

During the two-hour Flagstaff event, 13 citations, one arrest and one 30-day impound resulted from Flagstaff and BNSF Resource Protection efforts. A total of 16 contacts were made.

"Today's activities will definitely help the city of Flagstaff move forward on the education component for establishing the quiet zone," said Daryl Melvin, capital improvement engineer for the city of Flagstaff.

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