Modernize rail crossings in Flagstaff to save lives
The Issue
Every year, Flagstaff suffers from preventable rail line incidents. At-grade crossings across our city create severe public safety hazards, persistent traffic gridlock, and emergency response delays. Worse, open access to active BNSF rail lines leads to two recurring tragedies: drivers illegally stopping or parking on the tracks, and individuals in crisis accessing the corridors for self-harm.
Our current setup leaves active railroad tracks open and exposed in high-traffic urban areas. Signal arms and simple pavement markers are no longer enough to keep our community safe.
The Solution: The Flagstaff Rail Safety Infrastructure Initiative
We are calling on the Flagstaff City Council and ADOT to coordinate with BNSF Railway to implement a comprehensive safety overhaul for our local rail corridors:
Grade Separation & Enclosed Over/Underpasses: Replace dangerous at-grade street crossings with walled-off overpasses/underpasses featuring throw-proof, anti-climb barrier enclosures (minimum 8 feet high) to physically isolate pedestrian and vehicular traffic from active rail lines.
Smart Sensor Grid: Deploy automated thermal imaging, LiDAR, and LPR cameras at high-risk rail zones to detect stationary vehicles or individuals on the tracks and trigger instant alerts to 911 dispatchers and BNSF rail operations.
Strict Legal Deterrents: Enact local ordinances establishing severe penalties—including mandatory heavy fines, vehicle impoundment, and jail time—for unauthorized vehicle parking, idling, or reckless trespass on railroad rights-of-way.
Crisis Intervention Diversion: Ensure the ordinance includes immediate mental health diversion programs so individuals experiencing a crisis on the tracks are directed to mandatory treatment and support services rather than standard criminal processing.
Why This Matters Now:
Flagstaff can secure federal and state support through programs like the FRA Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant to help fund these upgrades. By combining physical infrastructure barriers, smart detection technology, and strict legal enforcement, we can eliminate track intrusions, keep traffic moving, and protect lives in our community.
Sign this petition to demand that the City Council take immediate action to secure and grade-separate Flagstaff's rail crossings.
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The Issue
Every year, Flagstaff suffers from preventable rail line incidents. At-grade crossings across our city create severe public safety hazards, persistent traffic gridlock, and emergency response delays. Worse, open access to active BNSF rail lines leads to two recurring tragedies: drivers illegally stopping or parking on the tracks, and individuals in crisis accessing the corridors for self-harm.
Our current setup leaves active railroad tracks open and exposed in high-traffic urban areas. Signal arms and simple pavement markers are no longer enough to keep our community safe.
The Solution: The Flagstaff Rail Safety Infrastructure Initiative
We are calling on the Flagstaff City Council and ADOT to coordinate with BNSF Railway to implement a comprehensive safety overhaul for our local rail corridors:
Grade Separation & Enclosed Over/Underpasses: Replace dangerous at-grade street crossings with walled-off overpasses/underpasses featuring throw-proof, anti-climb barrier enclosures (minimum 8 feet high) to physically isolate pedestrian and vehicular traffic from active rail lines.
Smart Sensor Grid: Deploy automated thermal imaging, LiDAR, and LPR cameras at high-risk rail zones to detect stationary vehicles or individuals on the tracks and trigger instant alerts to 911 dispatchers and BNSF rail operations.
Strict Legal Deterrents: Enact local ordinances establishing severe penalties—including mandatory heavy fines, vehicle impoundment, and jail time—for unauthorized vehicle parking, idling, or reckless trespass on railroad rights-of-way.
Crisis Intervention Diversion: Ensure the ordinance includes immediate mental health diversion programs so individuals experiencing a crisis on the tracks are directed to mandatory treatment and support services rather than standard criminal processing.
Why This Matters Now:
Flagstaff can secure federal and state support through programs like the FRA Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant to help fund these upgrades. By combining physical infrastructure barriers, smart detection technology, and strict legal enforcement, we can eliminate track intrusions, keep traffic moving, and protect lives in our community.
Sign this petition to demand that the City Council take immediate action to secure and grade-separate Flagstaff's rail crossings.
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Petition created on August 9, 2026