NEW YORK – The New York
MTA is partnering with Waze to improve safety at railroad crossings on
the Metro-North Railroad lines.
Using the Waze app, motorists will be alerted that they are approaching
a grade crossing.
In 2017, there were 26 incidents reported of vehicles on tracks; this
year through May 29, there were seven. In 2017, Metro-North recorded two
grade crossing accidents; through May 29 this year, two grade crossing
accidents were recorded.
“Metro-North’s plans to partner with Waze is one component
of the railroad’s ongoing effort to enhance safety,” said
railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “In addition to finding new
ways to employ state-of-the-art safety technology, events like International
Level Crossing Awareness Day (Thursday) give us a personal, boots-on-the-ground
approach to educating our customers about sail safety.” She said
TRACKS, a free community outreach rail safety education program for students,
pedestrians, drivers and train riders throughout Metro-North, has reached
more than 191,000 people since 2016.
“Safety is a core value at the MTA and its commuter railroads, for
our customers and our employees – as well as for those in the communities
we serve,” said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota.
The Waze system is also being employed on the Long Island Rail Road system.
