Fox River Grove: 10 Years Later

By Julie Metea | Contributing Editor

RENO , Nev. - It's been a decade since the fatal school bus-commuter train accident in Fox River Grove , Ill. one of the nation's worst incidents of its kind. After years of "lessons learned," Chicago 's former manager of school transportation Peter Grandolfo doesn't think the industry is doing enough to prevent another high profile tragedy.

"I promised myself I wouldn't cry," said Grandolfo, who speaks specifically about the Fox River Grove case study. During a safety workshop at the STN Expo, he admitted that he still lives with the pain of seven children dying in the accident and feels compelled to change safety standards for railroad crossings.

On October 25, 1995, a commuter train crashed into the rear of an occupied school bus that extended about three feet over the track. Federal investigations turned up many reasons why the driver couldn't foresee the accident or quickly react in the path of the train. Among the mistakes, the hilltop crossing had blind spots and reduced "cue space" to maneuver as the result of reconstruction. The driver also couldn't hear the oncoming train due to radio music and acoustic insulation.

"Everything that could go wrong happened on that day," said Grandolfo, who passed on safety recommendations. He advises drivers, transportation directors and safety agencies to widely communicate train-bus incidents and safety breaches. Radios (for entertainment) need to be turned off while driving, and speakers should be located away from the driver's seat. Technology and sensors also can help alert drivers to oncoming vehicles.

This message comes as federal agencies raise awareness for safer railroad crossings. During congressional hearings in July, the National Transportation Safety Board told lawmakers there are more than 3,000 accidents a year involving trains and vehicles at nationwide crossings.

NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker is campaigning for increased safety methods, especially at train crossings without lights, signs or automatic barriers.

"While louder train horns can be effective, we recommend in-vehicle warning systems to enhance safety at passive grade crossings," Rosenker testified to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Those in school transportation see mixed efforts of railroad crossing safety. Mark Nelson, transportation director for the Mattoon School District, located about 250 miles outside Chicago, said he has noticed more railroad crossing markings during the past five years.

"Fox River Grove dictated these actions, but you'd think the rest of the nation would have learned a lesson," said Nelson.

Terri Dykema of Pioneer Resources in Muskegon , Mich. , sees no signs of improvement in her part of the state. "I ran a bus rodeo that included a railroad crossing, and I was shocked at the number of drivers who didn't know how to properly stop."

Safety reports and recommendations for railroad crossings are available through the NTSB Web site.