Metro staff to visit stations to push rail safety to riders

Here’s the news release from Metro:

To increase rail safety awareness during September, Metro Safety staff will be visiting several rail stations passing out safety information, providing safety tips and discussing safety issues around trains and tracks with Metro Rail patrons.

The effort coincides with Railroad Safety Month in California established to raise awareness about the importance of proper safety around California railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings.
The Metro Blue, Red, Purple, Expo, Gold and Green line stations will be visited during rush hours, mostly in the morning hours during September.

“Safety has always been Metro’s top priority,” said Metro Transit Safety Programs Manager Barbara Burns. “Metro has developed a program focused on education, engineering, and enforcement, but we need the public’s cooperation. We need them to pay attention to their surroundings, to listen to the sounds, bells and whistles of trains approaching, to look around when they are near the rail tracks.”

Metro Safety staff will be at different rail stations throughout the month of September passing out safety information, promoting safety to patrons and responding to questions or providing safety tips while patrons wait for their train.

On the Metro Blue Line, Metro Safety staff will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the sidewalks by the exit at the Vernon Station on Sept. 6, Florence Station on Sept. 7, 103rd/Watts Towers Station on Sept. 10, Willowbrook Station on Sept. 11, upstairs (Green Line) and downstairs (Blue Line), and on Sept. 12 at Artesia Station.

On the Metro Expo Line, Metro Safety staff will be available from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on the sidewalks by the stations at the Expo Park/USC Station on Sept. 13, Vermont Station on Sept. 14, and Western Station on Sept. 17. On the Metro Gold Line Highland Park Station on Sept. 18, Mission Station on Sept. 19, Filmore Station on Sept. 20, Pico/Aliso Station on Sept. 21, Indiana Station on Sept. 24, and E.L.A. Civic Center Station on Sept. 25.

To reach patrons from the Metro Blue, Expo, Purple and Red Lines, Metro Safety staff will be on the Figueroa Street side of the Metro Blue Line escalators at 7th St./Metro Center station on Sept. 26 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sept. 28 from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m..

At Union Station, Metro Safety staff will be at the East Portal area leading to the Metro Red/Purple Lines on Sept. 27 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Metro cautions riders to avoid texting, talking on the phone or listening to music through headphones near the tracks or on station platforms. Remember to always Stop, Listen, Look and Stay Alive around train tracks. For more information on rail safety, visit metro.net.

7 replies

  1. That’s one thing buses have over rail; there are no power tripping officers treating everyone like criminals!

    This is why it’s far better to just have a tap-in/tap-out gate locked system. Cops should be delegated to do what they’re supposed to do, patrol the area, not check fares and consider those that can’t present them in less than five seconds upon command criminals.

  2. I’m not worried about trains. Trains won’t hurt you if you just stay off the tracks.
    I’m more concerned about getting attacked by a weirdo or a police officer when I take Metro. Metro, could you please direct some resources towards reining in out-of-control weirdos and police officers?

  3. Speaking of safety, when are we going to hear what caused the train/bus collision on the Blue Line last week? I haven’t seen any reports that identified the casue. Is that incident still under investigation?