Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility State House adopts Matzie resolution designating Sept. 21-27 as ‘Rail Safety Week’ in Pennsylvania

State House adopts Matzie resolution designating Sept. 21-27 as ‘Rail Safety Week’ in Pennsylvania

Rep. Robert F. Matzie    June 24, 2026 | 4:10 PM

HARRISBURG, June 24 – The Pennsylvania House today adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution designating the week of Sept. 21-27, 2026, as “Rail Safety Week” in Pennsylvania.

Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.R. 537 to raise awareness about preventable rail casualties.

“Although the numbers have improved in recent decades, far too many people still die needlessly in crossing collisions or by coming too close to tracks as pedestrians,” Matzie said. “Federal statistics show that a person or vehicle is struck by a train every three hours in the United States. A closer look at the numbers shows Pennsylvania ranks high on the list for both kinds of incidents. Last year, we ranked 11th in the nation for crossing collisions, with 56 collisions, 3 deaths and 24 injuries, and we ranked 6th for pedestrian incidents, with 34 deaths and 15 injuries.

“We need to do more to educate the public about the reality of rail dangers, including the fact that it can take a freight train traveling 55 mph more than a mile – about 18 football fields – to stop, that freight cars and cargo overhang rails substantially, that engineers face massive blind spots, and other information people need to stay safe.”

Matzie’s Rail Safety Week is scheduled to run concurrently with Operation Lifesaver’s nationwide awareness campaign called “See Tracks? Think Train® Week,” which seeks to reduce collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail crossings and prevent trespassing on or near tracks.

Matzie’s efforts to improve rail safety in Pennsylvania also include his work to reduce train derailments. In response to the 2023 East Palestine derailment that spread toxic fumes throughout the region, Matzie introduced legislation, recently passed by the House, that would implement common-sense guidelines to prevent a similar catastrophe. You can read more about the bill here: https://www.pahouse.com/Matzie/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=142898