BNSF News

Crossing-Closure Team Rocks at Achieving Milestones

2010-01-14

Field Safety Support and Public Projects employees have achieved 10 years of reaching grade-crossing closure goals and are well on their way to achieving the next significant milestone.

The closure initiative first rolled out in 2000, and the team has met significant annual crossing closure goals ever since. The crossing-closure team is comprised of Field Safety Support personnel, who focus on private crossings, and Public Projects employees, who work on public crossings. The goal of 450 closures in 2009 was achieved with both groups working together to improve community safety.

Mark Schulze, vice president, Safety, Training and Operations Support, said the joint team anticipates achieving a total of 5,000 grade-crossing closures during summer 2010.

"As of Dec. 31, the team closed a total of 4,686 grade crossings in 10 years," Schulze said. "Closing crossings is important because the closures help improve safety in the community and for our crews."

"Our closure program is recognized as one of the best, if not the best, in the industry," said Robert Boileau, assistant vice president, Engineering Services. "We are proud of the individual and team commitment to improving grade-crossing safety. Closing more than 4,600 crossings in 10 years is a remarkable achievement."

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BNSF Railway Company
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P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com