Operation lifesaver highway-rail grade crossing outreach program

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. received a $1.356 million Cooperative Agreement from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Highway Research and Development Program (CFDA 20.200), awarded September 23, 2025, with completion targeted for September 23, 2030. The organization will implement the Operation Lifesaver Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Outreach Program, a comprehensive public information and educational initiative designed to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities at railroad rights-of-way and highway-rail intersections. The program encompasses development and deployment of safety education materials, public awareness campaigns, online safety pledge programs, and training courses targeting motorists, pedestrians, and transit communities across the United States.

The cooperative agreement supports Operation Lifesaver's established mission of raising railroad and grade crossing safety awareness through evidence-based outreach activities. Deliverables include competitive sub-awards to transit agencies, creation of educational materials tailored for diverse audiences such as school children and professional drivers, coordination of Rail Safety Week programming, and participation in transportation safety conferences. This five-year award aligns with FHWA's broader objectives of improving highway safety and infrastructure integrity as authorized by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.