The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently awarded 25 projects in 13 states nearly $2 million in Railroad Trespassing Enforcement grants and $207,000 in Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention grants.
The Railroad Trespassing Enforcement Activities Grant Program provides hourly wages for law enforcement officers to enforce trespass violations. Recipients can use funding to augment the FRA’s data collection efforts and ensure projects support departmental objectives.
The Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program funds targeted outreach and education campaigns. Recipients can use funding to create curriculums and train professionals to better identify and respond to crisis situations.
Annually, approximately 400 trespass fatalities occur nationwide. In addition, more than 236 people die annually from suicide within the U.S. rail system and 27 are injured in suicide attempts.
“No mission is more important than saving lives, and FRA is fully committed to supporting states and communities in the collective effort to prevent avoidable tragedies,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said. “Through these grants, we will deter railroad trespassing and suicide through coordinated responses from a broad range of local organizations specializing in law enforcement, education, and mental health.”
Grants were awarded between $15,000 and $120,000.
Grant opportunities funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will contribute to FRA’s safety goals.