In an effort to educate the public on railroad traffic safety, the Green Bay Police Department (GBPD) is once again 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 Friday, September 19, 2025, from 1:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. along North Quincy Street between Eastman Avenue and Radisson Street, which is where Watco has reported approximately five near misses between trains and vehicles since the beginning of this year.
The GBPD will utilize multiple officers for the effort. One officer will ride in the locomotive to observe driver behavior, while the other officers will be placed on each side of the tracks. If the officer on the train witnesses a safety concern, the other officers will be notified, and one will then attempt to make contact with the driver to educate them on the importance of stopping for an oncoming train.
When this educational initiative was last conducted on November 28, 2023, it was done so because of approximately 25 to 30 near misses between trains and vehicles since the beginning of that year. That enforcement effort led to nine traffic stops resulting in two citations and nine warnings.
The Green Bay Police Department, Watco, and Wisconsin Operation Lifesaver thank the public for their cooperation along with ongoing efforts to practice safe driving.
