RT TO RECEIVE $870,000 FEDERAL GRANT Funding Will Be Used for Secondary Warning System for Track Worker Protection
| CONTACT: Susan Bitar | DATE: January 19, 2017 |
| OFFICE: 916-556-0300 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| CELL: 916-812-0369 |
grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for $870,000 to add a secondary warning system to increase safety of employees in light rail work zones. With the funds, RT will develop, implement, and test a system providing a three-way communication among workers on the track, train operators, and dispatchers in the central office.
“I’m pleased that safety remains a top priority for Regional Transit,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui. “These federal funds will allow RT to better protect workers, passengers, and the general public from the risks associated with important track maintenance work. I will continue to collaborate with RT to ensure that Sacramento residents have access to safe, efficient, and convenient transit options.”
This funding will allow RT to deploy the technology across the entire light rail fleet, which will fully demonstrate its functionality, reliability and utility on an active light rail system.
“We are excited to receive this grant, and greatly appreciate Congresswoman Matsui’s continued support and leadership,” said Henry Li, RT General Manager/CEO. “The current technology alerts the worker when a train is entering a work zone and the train operator of an upcoming work zone. This grant will fund all of that plus technology that will include the rail controller so that the worker, operator, and the controller are all notified of a train approaching an established work zone.”
Working with Protran Technology, a Harsco Rail Company, equipment will be installed in RT’s entire fleet of light rail vehicles and up to 60 Track Workers will be supplied with a smart device and/or an upgraded wearable warning device.
RT will ensure that the project includes a data capture component that allows for the collection of information that is reliable, consistent and relevant in gauging the impact and outcomes of the demonstration so interested agencies and FTA will be able to have access to the data, evaluating the program’s effectiveness.
About Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT)
RT operates approximately 69 fixed routes and 43 miles of light rail that covers a 418 square-mile service area. Buses and light rail trains operate 365 days a year. RT’s entire bus and light rail system is accessible to the disabled community.