WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has over 3,100 miles of railroad tracks across the Commonwealth; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2025, more than 2,272 highway-rail grade crossing collisions occurred in the United States—approximately one every three hours—resulting in 285 fatalities and 765 injuries, underscoring the importance of rail safety awareness and education; and

 

WHEREAS, more than 60 percent of highway-rail grade crossing collisions occur at crossings equipped with warning lights or gates, while more than 96 percent of railroad fatalities result from highway-rail grade crossing collisions and pedestrian trespassing on railroad tracks; and

 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia has made significant progress in reducing highway-rail grade crossing collisions, improving its national ranking from 13th in 2021 to 22nd in 2025; and

 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia remains committed to raising awareness of the dangers associated with ignoring safety warnings at highway-rail grade crossings and trespassing on railroad property while working to prevent avoidable deaths, injuries, and damage caused by train-related incidents;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize September 2026 as RAIL SAFETY MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.