UTA reports no 2014 accidental deaths, credits focus on safety

(Utah Transit Authority)


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SALT LAKE CITY — In a year with more buses and trains in use and in increase in ridership, the Utah Transit Authority recorded no accidental deaths in 2014, the first time in eight years that has occurred.

Speaking at a monthly board meeting at the UTA's headquarters, general manager Michael Allegra said the goal of the agency is to develop a culture where each employee takes safety personally.

"It's a community effort," he said. "We've done distracted walking campaigns, we've done other safety issues, including educational and enforcement efforts. At the end of the day, it's this culture of continuously improving and being safer."

Allegra said that UTA is partnering with the Utah Department of Transportation's efforts to reach the goal of "zero fatalities" on roads and highways.

"That (campaign) is exactly what this is about," he said. The agency has made a concerted effort to develop safety features around rail crossings and commuter rail platforms. That effort must be maintained for it to continue to be effective.

Just three years ago there were nine deaths involving the UTA transit system, including six accidental fatalities — the most on record — along with three suicides.

"It's a very good milestone for us to have no accidental fatalities because that means that we're operating safely, but also the traveling public is crossing our railroad tracks and maneuvering around our buses in a safe manner," said UTA chief safety and security officer Dave Goeres. "We very much appreciate that."


As people are getting use to it and recognizing it, along with our safety campaigns, they pay more attention.

–Michael Allegra, UTA


Allegra attributed the improved safety numbers to people becoming more familiar with the expanding transit system during the past several years. He said when the rail system was in its infancy, people were not used to the presence of commuter or light rail trains passing through their neighborhoods and were sometimes caught unaware.

"As people are getting use to it and recognizing it, along with our safety campaigns, they pay more attention," he said. Even though the agency has achieved one of its major goals, the job is not done.

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