New SJJPA video urges safety near tracks

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The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), the managing agency for the Amtrak San Joaquins service, has created a new video intended to help boost safety around railroad tracks and crossings.  

The video was developed to cut down on trespassing on or near railroad tracks, as well as to end collisions and casualties at highway-rail grade crossings, according to a release from Marketing Manager David Lipari.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) states that 265 people died in 2016 as a result of highway-rail incidents and collisions at public and private crossings.

Although injuries and fatalities on average have dropped throughout recent decades, the number of such incidents has been on the rise locally during the past couple of years, officials said.

“Driver and pedestrian distractedness and inattentiveness has been advanced as an important cause of these unfortunate but avoidable incidents,” San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority said.

The three minute video features Frankie the Firebird, the mascot for the American Hockey League Stockton Heat, and Stockton Police community service officer Rosie Calderon, who offer and demonstrate tips for remaining safe near railroad tracks and trains.

“This video delivers a half dozen key safety messages designed to resonate with the greater Stockton community by featuring local personalities,” said Brian Schmidt, SJJPA director of rail operations. “The full video is also available broken down into seven 15–20 second clips to facilitate sharing these important messages on social media, which will raise awareness with a much broader audience and help achieve the goal of saving lives.”