Do you Flip?

Flip video that is! We at OCTA produce weekly short video clips, called "Transportation in 2", to highlight transportation projects throughout the county.

The Flip video camera is easy to use and we can edit all of our videos on the Mac using iMovie. Our latest video is from Metrolink's unveiling of the new Crash Energy Management (CEM) rail cars that passengers will soon be able to use.



But check out this online story by Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc., that demonstrates how three nonprofit agencies (OCTA included) use the Flip for a variety of topics.

So...do you? Let me know where I can see your videos and learn more about what you Flip!

Visit our YouTube page to view other OCTA videos, or Tin2's as I like to call them.

PubComm Team Explores L.A.

OCTA’s Public Communications department recently visited Los Angeles and I wanted to share some of the highlights of our trip. I’ve made my way up to L.A. a number of times in the past for meetings, family trips and sporting events…but this was unlike any other excursion because it was all transit related! Needless to say, I felt like a kid in a candy store.


Catching up with some gals from our department, naturally,
we rode Metrolink to our destination.


Touring Union Station.


I had to include this picture, I just think it looks so cool!

Figuring out the Red Line to get to Pershing Square.

Riding the Angels Flight Railway
(literally the shortest railway in the world)...

and making it to the top for only 25 cents!

Nearly 400 Boy Scouts Participate in Railroading Merit Badge Day

We successfully hosted our first Railroading Merit Badge Day with nearly 400 Boy Scouts at Knott’s Berry Farm. Scouts learned how to be safe around tracks, the railroading industry and had the chance to visit the historic Edna & Durango rail cars that the president of the Rio Grande railroad used to travel in back in the 1800s.

Our friends at Garden Grove TV3 developed a great news clip on the event and captured some of the highlights of the day, directly from the scouts.



The Orange County Register also covered our event, highlighting that troops came from all over Southern California to earn their merit badge.

We heard from a number of parents and troop leaders that they hope the Railroading Merit Badge day will become an annual or semi-annual event – we hope so too! And get this, some of the scouts even mentioned that they’re interested in working in the railroading industry after participating in our event– it’s pretty cool to be a part of someone’s future planning like that!


A HUGE thanks to Knott’s Berry Farm, the Boy Scouts of America and all the scouts, troop leaders and volunteers who participated in the event. I couldn’t have done it without you and I’m looking forward to next time!

Max & Lucy Comic Book Heroes Help Kids with Rail Safety

Since safety messages are literally for everyone, we created Max & Lucy, rail safety superheroes, to educate kids and the younger generations in our community about how to be safe around train tracks.

Hot off the press - we just received our comic book, "Rail Tales with Max & Lucy" and I'm so excited to share it with you! It's honestly a great feeling to see all of our hard work come to life. Stay tuned for Max & Lucy's safety web page and an interactive rail safety quiz.

Check out my AudioBoo with @TedNguyen, aka my Public Communications manager at OCTA!

My Railroad Days at Disneyland

I just celebrated a birthday at Disneyland and there were a few things I simply could not resist:

1. Riding the teacups & spinning so fast I can't walk straight
2. Eating a Disney churro

3. Taking pictures with anything train related

I just had to share some of my favorite moments. I don't know all that much about the history behind the Disney railroad, although it is a fully functioning and operational railroad (awesome!), or the train in California Adventure...but I have an annual pass now and I intend to learn more with each visit.

If you know some fun info and background about rail related rides & attractions at Disneyland, please share. I'd love to hear about it!

WANTED: Boy Scouts

On Saturday, April 17, OCTA is partnering with Knott's Berry Farm to offer Boy Scouts an opportunity to earn their Railroading Merit Badge at Knott's Berry Farm while learning about rail safety.

Scouts will participate in various activities that will fulfill the Railroading Merit Badge requirements, including riding on the Calico Railroad throughout the park, visiting the historical railroad cars of The Edna and The Durango and learning from OCTA about how to be rail safe.

Young men are statistically more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors around train tracks, so…this is a great opportunity for us to educate pre-teen and teenage boys about rail safety!

If you are a Troop leader or your son is a Boy Scout, please join us at the Railroading Merit Badge Day. Registration is available to the first 500 participants (including guardians and Troop leaders).

Cost is $32.50 and includes:

• Merit badge activites
  
• Delicious box lunch
  
• All-day admissiont to Knott's Berry Farm

Registration ends April 9 or when 500 participants register.

Check out our flier with additional information too!

Be Rail Safe Team & Swallows Swoop into San Juan Capistrano

More than 5,000 people participated in the 52nd annual Swallows Day Festival in San Juan Capsitrano this past weekend. OCTA’s Be Rail Safe team also was there sharing tips with children and adults on how to be safe around train tracks.

Getting out into the community and meeting people face to face is definitely one of the best parts of my job! I feel like I’m making a difference when I surprise someone by informing them that train tracks are private property and pedestrian do not have the right of way.

It was a super hot weekend down in San Juan Capistrano but our participation at the festival was a huge success. We definitely don't have a boring information booth..like some out there...it's actually really exciting to see the kids play with the prize wheel while adults and parents take our rail safety survey!

Don’t be sad if you missed us in SJC, there’s still another chance to check us out. We’ll be hosting a booth at Railroad Days in Brea on Saturday, May 1, 2010. Hope to see you there!

OC's Railroad Crossing Safety Enhancement Project

Construction crews, dust and road detours are all part of OCTA’s effort to enhance safety at more than 50 railroad crossings throughout Orange County.

OCTA’s board of directors approved the $70 million project to enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians and provide the opportunity for cities to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for a quiet zone to help enhance the quality of life for residents along the rail corridor. A quiet zone is an area along the train tracks where trains do not need to routinely sound their horns unless of an emergency on the tracks.

Construction began in August 2009 and is underway in the cities of Orange and Anaheim. Some safety enhancements include raised medians in the middle of the road and additional crossing gate arms for drivers and pedestrians to discourage them from going around lowered gates that allow for a train to pass.

The OC Register just posted an online story about our project – it’s a must read! There’s also a lot of information on the OCTA web page including a construction schedule. I encourage you to sign up to receive weekly e-updates about construction in your neighborhood and to see if your daily commute may be impacted by our construction work.

It's Official, I'm Operation Lifesaver Certified

Operation Lifesaver is a nationwide rail safety awareness organization dedicated to keeping your communities safe around train tracks – like me! I first learned about this organization when I was assigned the rail safety program in Orange County. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with OL on a few events in the past and have learned firsthand that the volunteers involved with the organization are passionate about saving lives.

Anyone can become an Operation Lifesaver volunteer; all you need to do is contact your state coordinator for more information. But, if you want to go above and beyond to become a presenter, you must get certified. First you must go through a one-day training to learn about the history of Operation Lifesaver, its mission and essential rail safety tips. Once you’ve completed the training, you must provide a 10-minute presentation to a small group of 2 or more people that is observed by an OL staff member. If you pass then you’re certified, and you can provide rail safety presentations to members of your community on behalf of Operation Lifesaver.














Bill Schertle, of Orange, Calif., is the volunteer who observed my presentation and I passed with flying colors! He’s a great mentor and he really knows his rail safety materials. I’m more ready than ever to teach you and your community tips to be safe around train tracks. Operation Lifesaver truly is a wonderful organization to be affiliated with and I’m happy to be officially part of the OL family.

Pedestrian Killed by Train in Riverside

A young man was killed Wednesday night in Riverside as he and his friends walked along the train tracks and he was struck by a freight train.

This is honestly so sad and it breaks my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to this young man's family.

Although I do not know the details of this tragic incident, please visit Press Enterprise for the full story, I do know that we can all learn something from this - stay off the tracks!

We have no business or place being on or near railroad tracks, it's that simple. Train tracks are private property and if we are on or near them, it's considered trespassing and is illegal. Oh and more importantly, it's DANGEROUS!

I've seen people listening to music on their iPods as they walk/jog/run on the tracks and it boggles my mind. A train can come through at anytime and up to 80 miles per hour - get off the tracks folks!

The young man who died didn't have to, his death was preventable. I hope that we can all learn something from this tragic incident, please pass this message on to your family and friends.

What is a Railroad Crossing?

I know it sounds silly, but hundreds of us drive through these crossings every day and we don’t even realize it.

A railroad crossing is an intersection where the train tracks cross the road that we drive on. We, as drivers and pedestrians, share the same space at this intersection.

Railroad crossings are equipped with paving markings, warning signs, flashing lights, bells & gate arms. Each one of these devices has a function and is there to warn us that we’re approaching a railroad crossing and how we can exercise safe behavior at these locations. Don’t worry, future blog posts will explain what the different functions mean.

So the next time you’re out and about, be aware that you may be approaching a railroad crossing. And if you’re stuck waiting for the train to pass, pay attention to the gates coming down. They are there to “close” off the intersection or railroad crossing that we as drivers are approaching so that we can safely allow for the train to pass.

Hello Orange County

Hi! I'm Sarah Swensson and I work for the Orange County Transportation Authority, commonly known as OCTA. I am the community outreach coordinator for the countywide railroad safety crossing public awareness program.

Rail safety awareness started out as a standard outreach program with targeted audiences, but it honestly has now become my passion and something I am dedicated to. I’m out in the community at festivals and fairs, making presentations to different groups and sharing rail safety messages with people who want to learn and make a difference, it’s really a great job!

Like most people, I can get impatient while waiting for a train to pass...it always seems to happen when I'm running late. But those few minutes of waiting at a railroad crossing can save my life. The gates are down for a reason and the warning signs and train horns really do help to keep us alive.

This is officially my first blog post ever =) and I’m super excited to use this as a communications tool to reach you and other audiences to discuss rail related topics – I’ve become a huge rail fan too so feel free to contact me if you want to just talk trains! Please don't think this is a one-way blog either. I welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can raise rail safety awareness in Orange County and save lives.