Southern California regional rail authority MetroLink has received a $59,000 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to carry out a campaign aimed at deterring suicides along its system in Orange County.
The 12-month project will provide training to railroad staff at four 'hotpots' between Anaheim and Santa Ana, south Orange County from San Juan Capistrano through San Clemente, in the San Fernando Valley between Van Nuys and Burbank and in the San Fernando/Sylmar area.
MetroLink's internal safety records show 40% of Metrolink train strikes between 2017 and 2019 were caused by people wanting to end their lives.
During the same period, there were 93 incidents of train strikes against a person, 37 of which were declared suicide by the local coroner after investigation.
However, MetroLink points out that the actual number of suicides may be higher due to the nature of these investigations.
The rail authority emphasises there is an ongoing crisis of homelessness results in people living alongside railroad rights of way, putting them very near trains passing by, sometimes at speeds of 70mph.
According to MetroLink: “Research indicates that availability of a means of death is a major factor in suicide and, in the case of homeless encampments near tracks, trains become the means.”
MetroLink CEO Stephanie Wiggins says: “Metrolink is eager to work with law enforcement and community groups to help in any way we can to educate individuals homeless encampments about options available to them. This grant is a force multiplier for our efforts to keep people safe in the vicinity of our tracks.”
The grant is part of the Suicide Prevention Project funded by the FRA’s Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
It will be directed by a steering committee with Metrolink staff working with a team of psychologists from the University of Denver Transportation Research Center, skilled in training mental health professionals and working with the transportation industry.
