In an effort to educate the public on railroad traffic safety, the Green Bay Police Department (GBPD) is partnering with Watco, the parent company of the Fox Valley and Lake Superior Rail System, in “Officer on the Train”, an Operation Lifesaver program.
This initiative will take place on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. along North Quincy Street between Eastman Avenue and Radisson Street, which is where Watco has reported approximately 25 to 30 near misses between trains and vehicles since the beginning of this year.
The GBPD will utilize three officers for the effort. One officer will ride in the locomotive to observe driver behavior, while the other two officers will be placed on each side of the tracks. If the officer on the train witnesses a safety concern, the other two officers will be notified, and they will then attempt to make contact with the driver to educate them on the importance of stopping for an oncoming train.
“This is about compliance. We are not looking to cite drivers, but rather make them aware of what could be a fatal or serious injury crash. We understand that trains can slow us down from arriving at our destination at the time that we had planned, but please take the time to stop and wait, it may be lifesaving,” said Captain Clint Beguhn, Green Bay Police Department.”
The Green Bay Police Department, Watco, and Operation Lifesaver thank the public for their cooperation along with ongoing efforts to practice safe driving.
