INDIANTOWN — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has implemented safety countermeasures at the North Grade Road railway crossing in Palm Beach County to help curb the occurrence of incidents at the crossing. The additional countermeasures include the installation of gates, flashing lights, dynamic envelope pavement markings, and signage. The installation of gates and flashing lights at the crossing was completed in January 2021.

The countermeasures were installed in accordance with Operation STRIDE (Statewide Traffic and Railroad Initiative using Dynamic Envelopes), which was established by FDOT in December 2019. Operation STRIDE includes engineering countermeasures, education, and enforcement efforts to provide a comprehensive strategy to prevent fatalities.

A dynamic envelope is known as the area near railroad crossings designed to keep motorists out of the danger zone. White connecting X’s are used to visually highlight stopping distances at railroad crossings to increase safety for motorists. These markings indicate the clearance needed for trains to safely pass.

FDOT pilot programs show dynamic envelopes reduce the number of vehicles that stop on or too close to the tracks by at least 15%. Since the implementation of Operation STRIDE, more than 75% of the dynamic envelopes at crossings under FDOT’s purview have either been completed or are in the process of being installed, and the department has preliminarily seen a reduction in rail crossing incidents across the state.

More information about this statewide rail safety initiative can be found on the Operation STRIDE webpage, which also includes safety tips, videos, photos of completed dynamic envelopes, and social media posts.