Extend olis safety message for motorists and pedestrians regarding safety around rail crossings and along rail lines to the transit community including commuter railroads subway light rail and…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Operation Lifesaver, Inc. $750,000 on April 14, 2026, under the Technical Assistance and Workforce Development program (CFDA 20.531) to extend rail safety messaging to transit communities including commuter railroads, subway, light rail, and streetcar/trolley systems.

Operation Lifesaver will design and make available a new public service announcement video focused on rail safety in mixed transportation urban environments applicable to all audiences including youth. The organization will coordinate the tenth annual "See Tracks? Think Train!" Week on September 21–27, 2026, in partnership with the U.S. DOT, railroads, transit agencies, and safety partners to raise awareness of rail safety and provide new materials for transit agencies' safety campaigns and public outreach efforts. Operation Lifesaver will attend, speak at, and provide booth displays at the APTA Rail Conference 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland, to disseminate safety best practices information.

Seven to eight competitive sub-awards of up to $20,000 each will be awarded to transit agencies or governmental entities providing transit services in the United States for transit safety best practice projects. Materials and products developed by sub-award recipients will be made available to other transit agencies on the Operation Lifesaver website.

The award period runs from April 14, 2026, through December 31, 2027, with place of performance in Washington, D.C. The expected outcome is prevention of fatalities and injuries at and around rail grade crossings. Intended beneficiaries include state Operation Lifesaver programs, transit agencies, and the general public.

Activities

1) transit safety education grants and project support - olis grant selection committee will select transit agencys to receive sub-awards to a max of $20000 each; materials and products from the transit agency awardees are made available for other transit agencies on olis website.2) transit safety best practices and technical assistance - OLI will design develop and make available for use by providers of public transportation a new public service announcement video focusing on mixed transportation urban environments applicable to everyone including youths.3) see tracks? Think train! Week - OLI will coordinate the tenth annual ST3 week on september 21-27 2026. OLI will work with the US DOT railroads transit agencies and other safety partners with the goal of raising awareness of rail safety among broad audiences and providing new materials for transit agencies to use for their own safety campaigns and public outreach efforts.4) apta rail conference outreach to public transportation - OLI will attend speak at and provide booth displays at the apta rail conference 2026 in baltimore MD to disseminate safety best practices information.

Expected outcomes

Prevent fatalities and injuries at and around rail grade crossings.

Intended beneficiaries

State operation lifesaver programs transit agencies and the general public.

Subrecipient activities

Seven to eight competitive subawards to a maximum of $20000 each will be available to any transit agency or governmental entity that provides transit services in the U.S. For transit safety best practice projects.