FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2001
ANGELS
ON TRACK FOUNDATION EXPANDS ITS RAIL-CROSSING EDUCATION
PROGRAM -- ATTRACTS NATIONAL EXPERT AS DIRECTOR
Canal Fulton,
Ohio -- The Angels on Track Foundation -- a non-profit
entity with the mission to provide funding and knowledge
in support of improved protection devices at railroad crossings
in Ohio -- has created an education subsidiary known as Crossing
To Safety (CTS). Directing CTS will be Dr. Harvey
A. Levine, a noted transportation consultant with over
35 years of experience in railroad matters, including railroad-crossing
policies, economics, and administration. Under the mantra
that "bad crossings can kill good drivers," the
goals of CTS are to:
- Change the current
education practices which among other inadequacies, blame
victims for almost all railroad-crossing accidents;
- Develop a railroad-crossing,
accident-causal data base which provides accurate data
to support both education and safety-improvement programs;
- Heighten the
sense of need and urgency among Ohio officials, to install
automated gates at the more than 4,000 non-gated, public
railroad crossings in the State, and;
- Revamp the "Railroad
Grade Crossings" section of the Digest of Ohio Motor
Vehicle Laws so that it is more appealing, effective, and
memorable.
According to Angels
on Track founders and trustees, Dennis and Vicky Moore of
Canal Fulton, Ohio, "the need for CTS is an outgrowth
of our experience in helping to fund the installation of
crossing gates and working with individual counties throughout
Ohio developing railroad safety task forces. We have found
a public apathy that feeds ignorance and misinformation.
At the same time, we recognize that Ohio has in place, a
fairly comprehensive organizational structure which addresses
railroad-crossing safety. In this regard, CTS has been initiated
to supplement, rather than supplant, current education efforts.
We are excited about attracting someone with the background,
knowledge, and national reputation of Dr. Levine to head
CTS." Dr. Levine has practical experience as a railroad
employee, a transportation consultant, a public official
(with the Interstate Commerce Commission and United States
Department of Transportation), and for 18 years, as a vice
president of the Association of American Railroads -- the
railroad industry's major trade association. Furthermore,
he has taught at the university level and has testified before
numerous regulatory, judicial, and legislative bodies, including
the United States Congress.
Dr. Levine says
he is joining The Angels on Track Foundation because, "it
provides a forum to institute needed changes in railroad-crossing
education which are patently obvious to those few people
who have studied the system. In that Ohio seems to already
have a head-start over many other states in terms of its
public involvement in railroad-crossing safety, I believe
that with the changes CTS is advocating, Ohio can become
a model for the rest of the nation. And finally," according
to Dr. Levine, "I would be remiss if I didn't add that
I have nothing but respect for the Moores as individuals
and as dedicated advocates of improved railroad-crossing
safety. We are on the same page and it is our job to get
the rest of Ohio on that page."
For more information:
Contact – Vicky
L. Moore, Trustee
The Angels on Track Foundation/Crossing To Safety®
Ph: 330-738-3197
FAX: 330-738-3198
info@angelsontrack.org
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