North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) on Jan. 28 reported its partnership with NC State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) to establish RailTap (Rail Technical Assistance Program), which will educate the public and workers about crossing hazards, promote safety practices, and provide localized training for those involved with highway/rail grade crossings.
NCRR is providing the 20% non-federal funding match as required under the FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program, one of seven grant programs that the U.S. Department of Transportation announced earlier this month would provide nearly $5 billion to 560-plus projects in all 50 states, D.C., and the U.S. territories.
According to NCRR, RailTAP Steering Committee members “will play a vital role in enhancing rail safety by guiding the development of training and awareness courses; highlighting critical safety needs for North Carolina’s communities and beyond; and shaping strategies to improve safety for the rail industry, citizens, and first responders.”
NCRR, which manages 317 miles of rail corridor in the state, currently provides a rail safety training program for its employees that is said to be approved and validated by FRA and Norfolk Southern. The company is slated to offer “guidance, best practices and support” for RailTap.
“This unprecedented grant represents a transformative investment in rail safety, and we’re proud to see North Carolina benefit from this historic initiative,” said Trish Haver, Chief Commercial Officer at NCRR. “Partnering with NC State University allows us to focus on reducing collisions, injuries, and risks at rail crossings across the state, creating safer communities for all who live, work, and travel here.”
“Our research on rail trespassing and rail crossing safety illustrates the significant challenges and opportunities around making rail crossings safer for all, and the scale of this funding is a clear demonstration that the FRA agrees,” added Daniel Findley, Associate Director of NC State’s ITRE. “We’re excited to partner with NCRR to build and launch RailTAP, which will be a great addition to the Technical Assistance Programs currently administered at ITRE: NC LTAP and NC AirTAP, which educate road maintenance and airport professionals across the state.”
