Grade Crossing Safety Blitz on the Monon Corridor

The South Shore Line, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, the Federal Railroad Administration, and Indiana Operation Lifesaver, today announced a grade crossing safety and trespasser prevention campaign along its soon to be opened Monon Corridor. The campaign will take place Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2, 2026, targeting unsafe driver behaviors at highway-rail grade crossings and pedestrian trespassing along the right-of-way between Hammond Gateway and Munster/Dyer stations.

“These crossings and the tracks themselves are not shared spaces, and on the Monon Corridor that message is more critical than ever. This line operates as a quiet zone — trains will not sound their horns — and we want every driver and pedestrian to understand the rules and the stakes as we move our first passengers on March 31st” said Kristen Coslet, Director of Safety and Rules, South Shore Line.

During the blitz, law enforcement officers from Munster and Hammond, along with NICTD personnel, FRA, and Operation Lifesaver, will be stationed at crossings along the corridor educating drivers and pedestrians on the dangers of grade crossing violations and trespassing on railroad property.

The Monon Corridor operates as a federally designated quiet zone, meaning trains will not routinely sound their horns at grade crossings. Horns will only be sounded in emergencies — such as when a person, vehicle, or animal is on or near the tracks. Drivers and pedestrians cannot rely on hearing a horn as a warning. Signals, gates, and your own awareness are your only protection. If the lights are flashing or the gates are down, a train is coming — stop and wait.

What Drivers Should Know:

• Never drive around lowered gates — it is illegal and deadly
• Stop at least 15 feet from the nearest rail when signals are active
• Never stop on the tracks — if caught on a crossing, keep moving
• A train cannot stop quickly — at speed, stopping can take a mile or more
• If your vehicle stalls on a crossing, get everyone out immediately, move away from the tracks, and call 911
• This is a quiet zone — you may not hear a horn. Obey signals and gates every time

What Pedestrians Should Know:

• Railroad tracks and rights-of-way are private property — trespassing is illegal and extremely dangerous
• Never walk on, along, or across tracks except at a designated public crossing
• Trains are quiet, fast, and much closer than they appear — never assume you have time to cross
• This is a quiet zone — there may be no horn warning before a train arrives
• Headphones and phones impair your awareness — never use them near tracks
• If you see someone on the tracks, call 911 immediately — do not attempt to intervene

The Monon Corridor is an eight-mile southern extension of the South Shore Line’s existing Lakeshore Corridor, running along the western edge of Lake County from Hammond to Munster/Dyer. The line serves four stations — Hammond Gateway, South Hammond, Munster Ridge, and Munster/Dyer — and connects riders to downtown Chicago via direct rush-hour trains and off-peak shuttle service with a transfer at Hammond Gateway. The Monon Corridor begins revenue service on March 31, 2026, marking the culmination of a project that broke ground in October 2020.

Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public education organization whose mission is to reduce collisions, deaths, and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and along railroad rights-of-way. More information is available at oli.org.