MAKING THE GRADE: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao launched a push to stem the increase in rail grade-crossing fatalities Tuesday. She directed four of DOT’s subagencies to draft a plan, and urged communities to close or separate crossings. “Pedestrians at grade crossings gamble — they actually gamble — that they have time to cross the tracks before the train comes. They’re gambling with their lives,” she said, noting that only 32 of last year’s 2,105 grade-crossing collisions involved automatic warning device failures, meaning the rest are due to people “making dangerous, reckless decisions.” Pros can read more from Tanya Snyder, and take a look at a graphic published by the DOT that shows the difference between active and passive crossings.
Written by The Associated Press for desmoinesregister.com