Rail safety tour makes stop in Bay Minette

By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 9/21/16

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — For more than 40 years, Operation Lifesaver has made its mission to increase safety awareness to reduce the number of incidents and deaths on railroad tracks and at railroad …

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Rail safety tour makes stop in Bay Minette

Posted

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — For more than 40 years, Operation Lifesaver has made its mission to increase safety awareness to reduce the number of incidents and deaths on railroad tracks and at railroad crossings.

In 1972, when the nationwide campaign began, there were 12,000 collisions involving motor vehicles and trains. In 2015, there were just more than 2,000.

When Alabama began its Operation Lifesaver program in 1976, there were nearly 3,000 highway-rail grade crossing incidents in the state. Between 2006 and 2015, there were less than 900.

Preliminary Federal Railroad Administration statistics show Alabama had 90 collisions resulting in five fatalities and 34 injuries in 2015.

“That might seem like a small number compared to what it was when we started, but we are still ranked sixth in the nation,” said Nancy Hudson, executive director for Alabama Operation Lifesaver. “There are many things that Alabama wants to be ranked high on. This is not one of them.”

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Alabama Operation Lifesaver and in its ongoing effort to increase railroad crossing safety, Hudson has been traveling the state in 2016, visiting 40 cities on its Partnership for Rail Safety Tour.

“We want to take every opportunity, in every community, to end these very preventable incidents and save lives,” Hudson said.

On Sept. 13, Hudson made her 21st stop on the tour at the Bay Minette City Hall. Additional stops were made locally in Mobile, Satsuma, Brewton and Monroeville.

While much of the train rails in Baldwin County have long been paved over, trains and railroad crossings are still a common sight in Bay Minette, which has six railroad crossings within the city limits.

“The railroad has always been an important part of this city and certainly safety needs to be emphasized for our employees and the community at large,” said Bay Minette Mayor Bob Wills.

Hudson gave a brief presentation to the city’s department heads, including Police Chief Clarence Crook and Fire Chief Mike Minchew and said she and her staff would be available for a more detailed presentation at the city’s convenience.

Wills said he would welcome the opportunity and wanted it to be a joint effort between the city and North Baldwin Utilities, whose employees actually have to cross the railroad tracks to get to city hall.

Hudson said she would also be available to give presentations at local schools and civic organizations.

Hudson was joined on the tour by Stephen M. Curlee, manager of Community Affairs and Safety, State Government & Community Affairs with CSX Corporation.

According to its website, csx.com, CSX is one of the nation’s leading transportation suppliers. The CSX Transportation network encompasses about 21,000 route miles of track in 23 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

“We are so proud of the work Nancy is doing and will do whatever we can to promote Operation Lifesaver’s message,” Curlee said.

Hudson also stressed the importance of pedestrian safety when it comes to railroad tracks. Nationwide there were more than 500 fatalities involving pedestrians on railroad tracks, 11 in Alabama in 2015, according to statistics presented by Hudson.

“It may seem like harmless fun, but the bottom line is that railroad tracks are private property and walking along railroad tracks is trespassing,” she said. “It is against the law, not primarily to protect the property owner’s rights, but as a matter of public safety and we want to do everything in our power to promote public safety.”

If you would like more information about Operation Lifesaver or railway safety, visit alol.org or contact Hudson at alol@att.net.