If you don't think a serious train accident involving pedestrians or vehicles can't happen here - think again. In August 2000, a pedestrian was nearly struck by a train at Keystone Avenue, and a pickup truck was hit by a train on 4th Street. According to the Surface Transportation Board, fatalities from train accidents involving vehicles or pedestrians will increase from one death every 15 months to one death every 13 months, with an increase in train traffic from 14 to 24 trains per day in Reno. Imagine a car running over a soda can and you'll grasp the impact of a train hitting a car. Now - imagine that accident happening at a downtown Reno street crossing within feet of casinos, businesses, and pedestrians.
Public safety remains the highest priority for the City of Reno and there's no room for complacency.
According to Operation Lifesaver, the majority of accidents involving trains show that the fault lies with the motorist - not the railroad. With the merger of Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads, train traffic through Reno is expected to increase from 14 trains a day to 24 or more within five years. The cranes arrival marks the birth of Vision 2000, the Port's Maritime improvement program. The Union Pacific railyards, located at the Port of Oakland, are undergoing significant expansion as well. UP estimates an increase of 14 to 25 or more trains as a result of the merger.