April is Rail Runner Safety Awareness Month

Rail Runner gives motorists a pat on the back for being "Train Smart"

(Albuquerque, NM – March 27, 2008)- The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is kicking off Rail Runner Safety Awareness month this April 1^st by giving out some positive reinforcement to motorists who obey the rules of the road near railroad tracks. This coming Tuesday, law enforcement officers from the Town of Bernalillo will be at the railroad crossing near Avenida Bernalillo (take I-25 exit #240) recognizing motorists for “good behavior” – instead of bad. 

“This is our way of saying to drivers Thanks for paying attention”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “For the most part, motorists have been very cooperative and attentive since the start of commuter rail service nearly two years ago. And we want to reinforce the good behavior because that’s what saves lives – drivers paying attention to posted warnings and signs near crossings.”

Rail Runner Safety Month

“Positive Reinforcement Day”
Tuesday, April 1^st
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Rail Runner crossing at Avenida Bernalillo (NM 473) – take south Bernalillo exit (exit #240)

*8:30 a.m. News Conference

In addition to the positive reinforcement exercise, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express will be conducting a number of other safety-related activities throughout the month of April. Among them:

·Officer on the Train Event – to spot motorists violating traffic rules at crossings

·Rail Runner Goody bag giveaways to 99.5 morning drive radio listeners

·Rail Runner customer appreciation days at various stations throughout the month

“Safety is our number one concern, and it’s very important that people living and commuting in the Rail Runner corridor understand that,” says NM Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught. “We rely on those - on and off the train - to make sure that good safety measures are being practiced. “

Last week the fourth railroad crossing in as many months was upgraded with gates and flashing signal lights in Valencia County, with more improvements planned for the area. Back in January, a stretch of track in Albuquerque’s north valley was designated an official quiet zone. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has set out specific safety guidelines that qualify a crossing for quiet zone status when equipped with additional warning signs and safety measures to compensate for the absence of the train’s horn as a warning device.

CONTACT:  Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov

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