NM Department of
Transportation
MRCOG take measures aimed at Railroad Safety
(Albuquerque, NM - September 20, 2007)- In
light of the two recent incidents involving Rail Runner trains in the
corridor, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the
Mid-Region Council of Governments are working together to take
aggressive measures regarding railroad safety.
-
A directed consolidation drive of the many private
crossings in the Rail Runner corridor, with consideration toward
creating “single access points” along the tracks where there
currently exist signalized crossings containing lights and/or
gates. This will be accomplished utilizing the services of a
consultant to assist in contacting all property owners in the
corridor who have access rights to private crossings. This
effort will include looking at closing as many of these private
crossings as possible, as well as exploring resources available
to provide a higher level of safety at private crossings that
remain open.
-
The NMDOT and the MRCOG will reinforce what is already being
done to alert people to the dangers posed by railroads in the
corridor with a more assertive safety campaign. This will
include the dissemination of safety announcements through local
media venues including broadcast television, radio, and print
media.
-
An effort will be made to work closely with New Mexico State
Police and other area law enforcement to step up patrols in the
corridor as it relates to enforcing traffic regulations.
“This is about our commitment to safety”, says Lawrence Rael,
Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments.
“Together with cooperation from the public, these measures will
ensure that the corridor in which the New Mexico Rail Runner
Express operates will remain a safe place for travel. This
effort requires all of us to be more vigilant about safety – be
it while riding on the train, or a pedestrian or motorist. All
of us must do our part to ensure that no one is in danger when
it comes to this railroad corridor.”
Contacts:
- Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov
- S.U. Mahesh, NM Department of Transportation (505) 490-0976
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