Safety

According to Metrolink, between July and December 2023, passenger and freight trains operating on its service lines were involved in 53 vehicle and pedestrian strikes, a 39% increase from same period in 2022, with nearly half of all strikes in 2023 ruled as suicides. (Metrolink Photograph)

Metrolink to Pilot Track Intrusion Detection

Southern California’s Metrolink will use a $1.3 million federal grant for the development and demonstration of a track intrusion detection system that it said not only will improve the safety of its riders and crew, but also directly benefit pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and everyone else who interacts with the regional/ commuter rail system.

The Union Pacific 2023 J.C. Kenefick Safety Award winner Bayson Oxuzidis with, from left, Chief Executive Officer Jim Vena; Bayson’s wife, Jennifer; and Eric Gehringer, Executive Vice President-Operations. (UP Photograph)
Commentary

Watch: Bayson Oxuzidis Trailblazes Path at UP

Under the harsh gaze of the Sonoran sun, one leader’s approach to safety is as relentless as the desert heat itself. That quiet force is Bayson Oxuzidis, a dedicated Union Pacific (UP)

During 2023, rail ridership grew by eight percentage points relative to 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, ending the year at 70%, while bus ridership grew by 12 percentage points to 81% of 2019 levels, according to the latest APTA report. (Chart Courtesy of APTA)

APTA Releases Ridership Trends Report

After falling to 20% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, public transit has recovered to 79% of pre-pandemic levels as of March 2024, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest ridership trends report.