Miami: Look. Listen. Live.
That’s the message Brightline officials are strongly promoting to deter pedestrians and motorists from crossing over railroad safety features and prevent future tragedies on the tracks.
While Brightline – the only provider of modern, ecofriendly, intercity rail in America – is an important option for commuters traveling between West Palm Beach and Miami, the line has seen an alarming number of injuries and deaths at railroad crossings and along the tracks.
Since the company began test running its trains in 2017, there have been nearly 60 fatal crashes on the tracks.
(Brightline)
Another motorist tried and failed to beat a Brightline train in Lake Worth Beach on Feb. 16, making it the fourth incident in that week involving a rail line.
The Federal Railroad Administration – the regulatory group that oversees safety regulations for the industry nationwide – has taken notice, and officials have requested a meeting with the operators of Brightline, Tri-Rail, Amtrak and CSX to assess what’s being done to deter accidents involving trespassers on tracks and motorists at railroad crossings.
The Florida Department of Transportation did not respond to repeated requests from the Biscayne Times for comment.
Ben Porritt, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Brightline, was quick to point out that most fatalities were a result of pedestrians and motorists disobeying the safety precautions that are in place. As a result, he believes they should be referred to as “incidents” as opposed to “accidents,” because they all were preventable.
“They’re tragic for everyone involved, and what makes them so tragic is they can be prevented. You have to obey the warning signs that are there,” Porritt said.
According to an analysis by The Associated Press, the rate of incidents involving Brightline trains where a person has died is more than once a month and about one for every 29,000 miles the trains have traveled.
Much to Brightline's frustration, that’s the worst per-mile death rate of the nation’s 821 railroads, according to the analysis.
(Courtesy of Jennifer Eguino)
Brightline tracks near the intersection of NW First Avenue and NW Sixth Street in Fort Lauderdale.
Several new safety initiatives are in place, including the addition of red light intrusion detection cameras that alert Brightline of trespassing and illegal activity. There have been 812 infractions recorded and notices are being sent to the homes of offenders warning them what they are doing is illegal and dangerous.
Landscaping to deter pedestrians has cost Brightline $1.8 million. More than 3,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted along the South Florida railway to create a sustainable safe barrier between the tracks and the community.
Many of these initiatives were put in place before Brightline resumed services in November after a nearly two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, but the fatalities continue.
Operation Lifesaver, a national nonprofit focused on reducing grade crossing incidents and promoting rail safety, has issued the following safety tips:
· The train you see is closer and faster-moving than you think.
· Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly.
· Never drive around lowered gates; it’s illegal and deadly.
· Do not get trapped on the tracks; proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can clear the crossing without stopping.
· If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out and get away from the tracks, even if you do not see a train. Locate the emergency notification system sign and call the number provided, telling them about the stalled vehicle.
· At a multiple-track crossing wait for a train to pass. Watch out for a second train on the other tracks that may be approaching from either direction.
· When you need to cross train tracks, go to a designated crossing, look both ways and cross the tracks quickly, without stopping. Remember, it isn’t safe to stop closer than 15 feet from a rail.
Porritt says the impact fatal incidents have on Brightline employees can be immense.
(Courtesy of Ashley Font)
Railroad tracks on NW Second Avenue and West Broward Boulevard near the Fort Lauderdale Brightline station.
Crew members get three days off after someone is killed, more if requested, and can receive immediate counseling at no cost to them. Therapists are also being placed at worksites to make them readily available; group therapy sessions are being considered.
Beginning next year, Brightline will be carrying passengers from Miami to Orlando through the downtown areas of Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, along the Treasure Coast to Cocoa, and then west to Orlando International Airport.
Currently, Brightline trains are permitted to travel up to speeds of 79 mph, but will eventually be able to travel between 81-125 mph.
A coastal link rail system may be carrying commuters among cities in Broward and Miami-Dade counties by sometime in 2027. The Broward portion of the project is currently under review by the Florida Department of Transportation.