Partnering to advance highway-rail crossing safety

Keeping people safe at highway-rail grade crossings is a shared responsibility and top priority across the transportation industry.

That focus brought hundreds of rail and transportation professionals to Atlanta for the National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Conference at Georgia Tech, including federal and state leaders, engineers, educators and first responders.

Norfolk Southern served as the host railroad for the conference and played a key role throughout the event, contributing leadership and perspective to conversations on safety strategy, collaboration and innovation.

Who was there

The conference included participation from:

• Federal Railroad Administration Administrator David Fink
• Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry
• Team NS, with leaders, subject-matter experts and volunteers supporting the event throughout the week
• Railroads, public agencies and safety partners from across the country

Their presence underscored the importance of cross-industry and public-private collaboration to improve safety where roads and rail lines intersect.

Why Atlanta

Atlanta is one of the busiest rail hubs in the United States, with:

• Dense road and rail networks
• Growing population and congestion
• A mix of freight and passenger rail

Those dynamics make the region a real-world testing ground for safety strategies that can be applied nationwide.

A layered approach to safety

Norfolk Southern System Director of Safety and Operating Practices Corey Veal addressed the conference as a keynote speaker, outlining the company’s approach to grade crossing safety.

“Meaningful safety improvement doesn’t come from one single program or one initiative,” Veal said. “It’s about a layered, sustained strategy that combines culture, data, education, engineering and engagement.”

Veal highlighted:

• Data-driven risk identification to address hazards proactively
• Engineering improvements developed in partnership with state DOTs
• Public education efforts focused on human behavior and awareness

He also reinforced the role of safety culture across NS, encouraging employees to speak up, ask questions, and take action when something doesn’t feel right. As part of that message, Veal challenged attendees to take the conversation beyond the conference by talking with “your 5” — family members, friends, and others in their circle — about highway-rail grade crossing safety.

That includes helping people recognize the blue & white Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign found at every public crossing, understanding what information it provides, and knowing how using that information, especially the DOT crossing ID, can enable faster response and save lives in the event of a problem or emergency on or near the tracks.

Collaboration across the industry

Norfolk Southern Senior Manager, Grade Crossing and Wayside Engineering Cherita Hunter joined a panel with her Class I railroad counterparts, focusing on industry coordination and shared progress.

“The biggest thing here is how we move forward — and it really comes down to keeping communication open and collaboration strong,” Hunter said.

Her remarks reinforced that safety improvements are strongest when railroads, public agencies and industry partners work together from the start.

The takeaway

Norfolk Southern’s role as host railroad and active participant in this year’s conference reflects our broader commitment to improving safety and service through leadership and collaboration.

When responsibility is shared and partnerships are strong, rail crossings and communities are safer, driving more reliable service and growth opportunities for freight shippers across the country.

Martin Wattenbarger leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern Operations, with an emphasis on safety culture and performance, operational excellence, and employee engagement. He joined NS in 2020, bringing nearly 20 years of combined strategic communications experience in the private and public sectors.