Program Sound Transit is committed to providing a safe trip for passengers and working with towns along the train route to raise awareness of safety issues. The program targets school children, new drivers and the elderly, teaching safety tips and rules around trains, tracks and stations. The program is being coordinated with communities, businesses, school districts, the railroads, regional transit agencies, Operation Lifesaver and local police to increase public awareness of the safety rules around trains, tracks and at the stations. Education gives children, parents and communities guidelines and messages about developing safe pedestrian habits and respect for trains. Education also includes making people aware of the laws governing train tracks and grade crossing as well as encouraging strict enforcement of those laws.
Engineering includes developing improvements to equipment, signals, tracks and grade crossings.
Education Sound Transit s Sounder Safe and Sound program will teach safety tips for riding the train, including how to board and exit, and will give out pedestrian safety tips for getting to and from the station. Sound Transit will work with schools, transit agencies and other groups involved in regional and local safety programs to develop classroom lessons, workbooks and other safety outreach. Sound Transit will work closely with Washington Operation Lifesaver - a nationwide education program that has raised public awareness about the dangers at grade crossings and on railroad tracks. Nationally, Operation Lifesaver reports that safety efforts have reduced fatalities at grade crossings by 42 percent during the past decade despite a 20 percent increase in highway and freight rail traffic. Engineering Good engineering increases the safety of train cars, signal equipment and tracks.