By Charlotte Lane, Chair, WV Public Service Commission
Here are words you would rarely put together: railroad safety and the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.
Yet, when it comes to keeping rails safe and clear in the Mountain State, those duties fall to our Commission.
And the center of that work is Operation Lifesaver.
For more than three decades, the PSC has been a partner of Operation Lifesaver, a national nonprofit focused on rail safety education.
Together with us, they raise safety awareness and strive to reduce accidents at rail crossings.
That dedication starts at the top. The head of our railroad division was named chairman of the state program’s board of directors last year. John Perry is an excellent choice in that role and has served for 31 years as our coordinator.
John and his team of nine in our railroad section hosted more than 25 outreach events in partnership with Operation Lifesaver in 2025. Each event engages the public about the dangers that come from ignoring rail safety.
Railroad crossing safety is particularly important in a rural state, where roads and rails often intersect in sparsely populated areas.
The Federal Railroad Administration says crossing collisions and pedestrian trespassing on tracks account for more than 95 percent of all railroad fatalities.
Many people forget that railroad tracks are private property, or assume an unused track is no longer active. But assumptions have tragic consequences.
Whether walking, riding ATVs, or taking photos near tracks, these activities are illegal and pose many dangers. Treat railroad tracks like a busy highway, not a place to linger, walk your dog, or take a shortcut.
Public Service Commission Chairman Lane’s Column
A moment’s curiosity is never worth a lifetime of consequences. That’s the heart of the Operation Lifesaver message: See Tracks? Think Train.
So next time you’re at the State Fair, your local train show, or even aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, don’t be surprised if you meet someone from the PSC’s Railroad Safety team.
They’re part of your community, and they’re passionate about what they do.
Wherever they are, they’re working with Operation Lifesaver to keep you and your loved ones safe.
