Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Department of Transportation

Railroad Grade Crossing Safety

There are more than 1,000 miles of light and commuter railroad tracks and 2,400 miles of freight railroad tracks crisscrossing New Jersey. These tracks run throughout major cities and small towns, linking destinations and improving mobility for residents. They also run through residential and commercial areas and near schools, parks and other destinations. Encounters between people and trains is probable and can be extremely dangerous. The need to move toward a more comprehensive approach to pedestrian safety at rail crossings and along corridors was underscored in October 2011 when a 13-year-old boy in Garfield was fatally struck at a NJ TRANSIT roadway crossing. This incident occurred less than 24 hours after two teens in Wayne were struck and killed by a train while trespassing along a rail corridor.

In an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities at New Jersey railroad crossings, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and NJ TRANSIT took immediate action by calling together experts from transit, traffic, police and education agencies at the federal and state levels to develop strategies to strengthen rail safety across the state.

Through an E-Cubed (Engineering, Education and Enforcement) approach the NJDOT and NJ TRANSIT released the following New Jersey Safety along Railroads Short-Term Action Plan (pdf 1.1m). This plan is being implemented by both agencies with the overall goal to reduce fatalities along active railroads.

Last updated date: October 14, 2020 3:37 PM