Indiana to use grants to address railroad crossing collisions

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the  Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)  and the  Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh,  announced $219,155 in competitive rail safety awareness grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 11 states.

The FRA provided $175,000 of the total funding.

These grants will fund a variety of crossing safety and trespass prevention public education projects aimed at growing awareness and encouraging safe behaviors around railroad and transit tracks. Many of the campaigns are scheduled to coincide with See Tracks? Think Train!® Week,   September 15-21, 2025.

“FRA is very pleased to continue its support of Operation Lifesaver Inc.’s lifesaving efforts to combat preventable grade crossing and trespassing incidents and casualties,” said James Payne, Staff Director of the FRA Grade Crossing and Trespasser Outreach Division. “This grant funding allows OLI state organizations to conduct highly effective public outreach to deter the leading cause of rail-related deaths.”

Henry Posner III, Chairman of the Posner Foundation and the Iowa Interstate Railroad, added, “Increasing the public’s awareness about grade crossing risks, trespass prevention and suicide are rail industry challenges worldwide. In the USA, Operation Lifesaver is front and center in dealing with these societal problems through education and advocacy. For the seventh consecutive year, we are honored to not only provide funding but to stand as dedicated supporters of OLI’s lifesaving mission.”

OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh  said, “We are thrilled to announce this year’s grant recipients, whose innovative approaches are advancing rail safety education. Their dedication and creativity in sharing this lifesaving message make a real difference in communities nationwide. We are especially grateful for our continued partnerships with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, whose support makes these critical outreach efforts possible.”

Maleh continued, “Everyone can do something to make their communities safer. We urge you to engage with OLI on social media, schedule a FREE rail safety presentation, volunteer with us and explore oli.org for additional resources. Together, we can #STOPTrackTragedies and save lives."

Projects funded by the FRA grants include:

Indiana  Operation Lifesaver will launch a digital outreach campaign to address the rising number of railroad crossing collisions in Indiana. Running from September to mid-October 2025, the campaign will use geo-targeted digital ads, streaming PSAs and social media outreach to educate high-risk communities, while distributing branded Emergency Notification System (ENS) materials to reinforce safety awareness.