Nov. 7, 2007
TR-072010

OLYMPIA, Wash. – State regulators today approved $20,000 funding to improve safety at a railroad crossing in Walla Walla County.

The money, approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), will be used to install new signal and warning lights that will increase drivers’ visibility during daylight and nighttime hours, or bad weather conditions.

The railroad crossing is located at State Route 124 (SR-124) near Ice Harbor. There have been two accidents at this crossing over the last 10 years, including one fatality.

The Legislature created the Grade Crossing Protective Fund in 1969 to provide financing for installing or improving warning devices at public railroad-highway grade crossings. In 2003, the Legislature broadened the purpose of the fund to include all rail-safety projects that pose a high risk to public safety, including those that may not be related to public-grade crossings. Projects that are now eligible as a result of the new law include those decreasing pedestrian access to railroad tracks and safety improvements at private railroad crossings. The Legislature approves the amount of money for projects and the UTC administers the fund.

There are more than 5,000 public and private highway-railroad grade crossings in Washington. In 2006, there were 52 highway-rail crossing collisions resulting in eight injuries and eight deaths, one being a suicide. So far this year, there has been one private-crossing accident involving one death and one pedestrian fatality.

The UTC is the state agency in charge of railroad safety. Its activities include ensuring the safety of railroad operations, investigating train accidents, inspecting railroad crossings, public education and approving rail-safety improvement projects in Washington.