In the coming weeks, I will be introducing a resolution designating the week of September 21 to September 27, 2026, as “Rail Safety Week” in Pennsylvania.
 
It is my hope that this resolution will raise awareness across our Commonwealth of the need for rail safety education and empower the public to keep themselves safe near railroad tracks. This will run in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver’s nationwide awareness campaign called “See Tracks? Think Train  Week”, which seeks to reduce collisions, fatalities, and injuries at highway-rail crossings, and prevent trespassing on or near railroad tracks.
 
While gains have been made in highway-rail crossing safety, much more remains to be done. Although crossing collisions have plummeted by 82 percent over the past four decades, federal statistics show that there were 287 crossing fatalities in 2025 alone.
 
Trespassing is an even bigger problem. Every day, people are walking, exercising and taking pictures on or too close to the tracks, resulting in 1,314 deaths and injuries in 2025. Shockingly, in the US, a person or vehicle is hit by a train about every three hours.
 
In light of recent train derailments in our state and across the country, I believe this resolution is more important than ever. I hope you will join me in declaring September 21 to September 27, 2026 “Rail Safety Week” in Pennsylvania.