kevin j. o’connor - american public transportation ... trespasser initiative november, 2011 •...
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Trespasser Initiatives
Kevin J. O’Connor
NJ TRANSIT
Vice President/General Manager
Rail Operations
Newark, NJ
NJ TRANSIT Rail’s Operating Profile
• Statewide Transportation Agency
• Number of daily passenger Trains - 709
• Number of daily passenger trips – 276,459
• 500 miles of track
• Speeds between 60 and 80 miles per hour
• 330 “at-grade” crossings
• 164 Stations
• 11 Lines (also Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and Metro-North Port Jervis Line, Meadowlands Sport Complex and Princeton Branch.
NJ TRANSIT Rail’s Focus
• Focusing on “Education-Engineering-Enforcement”, NJ TRANSIT’s ongoing programs focus on reducing accidents and injuries involving trespassers and the effects of these incidents on our customers and co-workers.
NJDOT Trespasser Initiative November, 2011
• Two 17 year old male teenagers were struck by a train on a single-track bridge and fatally injured on
October 2, 2011
• A 12 year old male went under activated crossing gate and was struck by a second train on
October 3, 2011.
• NJDOT challenged NJ TRANSIT (NJT) to review our infrastructure with the goal of preventing trespasser incidents.
• Preliminary Hazard Analysis performed system-wide.
Preliminary Hazard Analysis
• Performed a Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) of trespass areas on the NJT Rail system during the month of November, 2011.
- “Head-end” observations with locomotive engineers over a 30-day period provided a “snapshot” of locations where trespassers access the right-of-way that may not have resulted in injuries or fatalities.
- Identification of 67 locations on 11 NJT lines which have been identified with “risk” through a detailed Evaluation Scale.
- Of the 67 locations, 14 are existing highway-rail or pedestrian grade-crossings.
Preliminary Hazard Analysis (cont’d)
• Evaluation Scale Rating Criteria Included:
- Number of Trains
- Physical Environment: Bridge, under-grade, above grade, at grade?
- Number of Tracks: Multiple or single?
- Track Geometry: Straight or curved?
- Existing Signage? Yes/No
- Existing Fencing? Yes/No
- Type of Trespasser Activity? Crossing tracks? Walking alongside track? Disregarding activated protection?
- Trespasser Age Group: 18 above/under
- Prior Incidents?
Hazard Identification and Resolution
• Hazard Resolution (HR) performed in conformance with the Rail System Safety Program.
• Work with NJDOT on further diagnostic evaluations.
Hazard Identification and Resolution (cont’d)
• HR’s have included:
- Signage
- Fencing
- Bollards
- Spotting of trains during station stops
- Closing pedestrian crossings
- Revise G/C activation times
- Cleaning of brush
- Additional school programs
- Police assistance
- Sometimes “No Change” is recommended!
Public Outreach
• Safety Education Program provided to schools throughout NJ and NY service areas (approximately 140 schools/30,000 students annually.
• Safety Education Program now includes presentations by locomotive engineers and NJT Police to re-enforce the traumatic circumstances resulting from a fatality to a trespasser.
• Driver Education Safety Programs presented to high schools (approximately 25 schools/4,000 students annually).
Suicide Prevention Program
• Formed in conjunction with Monmouth County in October, 2008 due to teen suicides.
• NJT developed and posted signage with toll free phone number at all stations.
Customer Safety Fencing Initiative
• Fencing installed in 2007 to channel customers leaving a train platform so they stay behind the activated grade crossing gates.
• 33 stations received the Customer Safety Fencing enhancements.
Grade Crossing Safety
• Diagnostic Teams are formed by NJT, NJDOT, and
local stakeholders to evaluate the adequacy of the warning devices at crossings system-wide and to upgrade them when necessary.
• NJ TRANSIT inspects and maintains all crossings on a periodic basis per federal regulations to ensure that all warning devices are working as intended.
• NJ TRANSIT Police work closely with local law enforcement agencies to target motorists and pedestrians who ignore warning devices.
Grade Crossing Enhancements
• NJ TRANSIT highway-rail grade crossings designed, built and updated per FHWA MUTCD and FRA regulations.
• As part of NJDOT/NJ TRANSIT trespasser initiative, two crossings have been identified for experimental enhancements.
• Designs and implementation of enhancements are being reviewed in conjunction with FRA Volpe Center.
• FRA Volpe Center installed cameras at both crossings to provide pre-installation evaluation.
Grade Crossing Enhancements (cont’d)
• Outwater Lane – Plauderville/Garfield, NJ.
To be equipped with “Second Train Warning” electronic visual and audio signage.
Grade Crossing Enhancements (cont’d)
• Atlantic Avenue - Matawan, NJ.
To be equipped with pedestrian gate Enhancements.
Pedestrian Gate Enhancements Vincent Margagliotta, an NJT Engineering-Signal Department employee, is the
sole designer and builder of this enhancement prototype.
Trespasser and Intrusion Programs
• “Intrusion Reporting” is provided by locomotive engineers, train crews, and on-track employees to identify areas of trespasser activity.
• “No Trespassing” (bi-lingual) signage developed and is placed strategically and includes state trespassing statute to facilitate NJTPD citations.
• A policy on “Right of Way Fencing” guides NJ TRANSIT’s efforts.
- This policy provides guidelines for the allocation of resources based on the SSPP Hazard Analysis process which includes incident/accident data, employee feedback, geographic location and frequency of service.
Trespasser and Intrusion Programs (cont’d)
• Since August 2003, 21 locations totaling 32,450 feet of fencing have been completed system-wide at a cost of $2,920,000.
Summary
• Long term initiative
• Commitment of NJT personnel and NJDOT
• Input and assistance from local communities