Developed by DDEC’s Uyen Dang, PE, the first-of-its-kind rail safety policy is now being implemented in one Florida city, following years of deadly collisions and trespass incidents.
DELRAY BEACH, FLA (May 20, 2024) – DDEC, LLC, a traffic and transportation engineering firm in Delray Beach, Florida, has introduced Rail S.A.F.E. (Safety And Functionality for Everyone), a comprehensive policy and initiative designed to save lives on railways nationwide.
Rail S.A.F.E. was established with the philosophy that no loss of life on railroad tracks is acceptable and that deaths and serious injuries on railroad tracks are preventable. The Rail S.A.F.E. policy is a formal commitment by elected officials and communities to reduce and eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on train tracks.
The policy is the cornerstone of DDEC’s Rail S.A.F.E. strategy, which involves policies, programs, and projects to eliminate deaths and serious injuries resulting from deadly collision and trespass incidents on railways. DDEC’s holistic approach involves education, enforcement, engineering, and engagement with partners at the federal and state levels to achieve zero fatalities on railroad tracks, while also enhancing the functionality and operations of our railways and transportation network.
Developed by DDEC Principal Uyen Dang, PE, a 20-year transportation industry veteran and traffic engineer, the Rail S.A.F.E. policy was first approved by the West Palm Beach city commission on May 13, 2023. Known as WPB Rail S.A.F.E., the policy is a significant step in safety policy at the local government level. Rail S.A.F.E. has since received the endorsement of Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency Governing Board Member Christy Fox, a West Palm Beach City Commissioner who encouraged Palm Beach County municipalities to adopt the Rail S.A.F.E policy. This groundbreaking initiative also caught the attention of Mass Transit Magazine, which published news of its adoption by the City of West Palm Beach.
“Far too many lives are lost as a result of collisions and trespass incidents on train tracks,” said DDEC Principal Uyen Dang, PE. “This is unacceptable. Change starts in our communities and begins with the Rail S.A.F.E. commitment to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on railroad tracks. I encourage local governments everywhere to adopt the Rail S.A.F.E. policy. Working together, we can reverse this deadly trend and save lives.”
A template of the Rail S.A.F.E. policy is available to municipalities for download free of charge. To download the policy template, visit www.KeepItRailSafe.com. For Rail S.A.F.E. inquiries, dial (813)-380-6574.
The need for Rail S.A.F.E. is significant. In 2022 alone, 511 people were killed and 475 were injured in railroad trespassing incidents across the United States, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. These sobering statistics represent far too many lives lost or forever changed by collisions with trains. Incidents at highway-rail grade crossings accounted for an additional 234 deaths and 638 injuries that same year when motorists attempted to beat approaching trains.
To learn more about Rail S.A.F.E., visit www.KeepItRailSAFE.com. To learn more about Ms. Dang and DDEC, visit www.DDEC.com.
