Washington Operation Lifesaver

05/28/2026

Rail safety education at the Ritzville Pop-Up Market was a success! 🤩 Visitors learned about rail safety by trying our train simulator, finding examples of safe and unsafe behaviors in our model railroad setup, and of course by talking to our expert volunteers.

Thanks for a great weekend, everyone!

05/18/2026

Wonderful news for our friends at the Northwest Railway Museum and public safety in Snoqualmie! Congratulations!

🎉 The Northwest Railway Museum will use their Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) award to install new equipment that makes the crossing signals less likely to fail.

These upgrades are a big win for public safety in the area!

🔗 Learn more: bit.ly/3Rw4Jgd

05/15/2026

We're so grateful for the support from Operation Lifesaver Inc. and the Federal Railroad Administration! The funds will support our efforts to educate Washingtonians and visitors as Seattle hosts the FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field this summer, which is near many busy rail lines.

Plus, we'll bring awareness to high-risk crossings in the city and highlighting Emergency Notification System (ENS) Awareness Day on June 24.

05/14/2026

Swing by the WAOL trailer while you peruse the Pop-Up Market! We'll be in front of the Depot Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is what downtown is supposed to feel like.

Local vendors along Main Ave, businesses open, and a full day built around showing up for each other.

Saturday, May 23 | 10am-4pm
We’ll see you downtown.

www.ritzvillechamber.com

05/02/2026

A blur of speed is beautiful from a distance. Admire it from afar!

04/29/2026

Mind the bumps! 🟡

The yellow bumps ("truncated domes") on the platform mark the boundary between safety and danger. To stay safe:
1️⃣ Wait for the train to come to a complete stop.
2️⃣ Stay behind the yellow line until it’s time to board.
3️⃣ Never lean over the line to look for an oncoming train.

Trains are wider than you think. Give them the space they need. 🚂

04/23/2026

During and every week, we are endlessly grateful for our team of volunteers. Their dedication to rail safety education is awe-inspiring. Truly, thank you all to infinity. ❤️

04/17/2026

Yesterday, WAOL held a hybrid board meeting at Sound Transit headquarters in Seattle. After, some of us toured the Sound Transit Link Light Rail maintenance facility. Plus, we got to experience the recently opened 2 Line, the first light rail in the WORLD to go over a floating bridge! 🤩

📸 (from the left): Kevin Saville and Tyler Whitcomb, both Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission Rail staff and WAOL volunteers; Martin Young, Deputy Director, Sounder Commuter Rail Operations; and WAOL board chair Danny Bergman, Sound Transit Commuter Rail Specialist and WAOL volunteer.

04/04/2026

Give yourself the gift of a split-second warning.

Modern trains are surprisingly quiet, and noise-canceling headphones are *too* good at their jobs. If you’re walking near tracks, try the "One In, One Out" rule. You still get your podcast or music, but you also hear the bells, whistles, or the rumble of an approaching train.

04/03/2026

The yellow line you see at train stations is there to keep you safe! 💛 Always stay behind it until the train has reached a full stop.