For Immediate Release
September 20, 2021
FDOT Completes Dynamic Envelope Installations Ahead of Schedule
Operation STRIDE initiative crucial to improving safety across the state
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – To kick off Rail Safety Week, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announces the completion of dynamic envelope installations at 620 state-managed rail crossings eight months ahead of schedule. Dynamic envelopes are an essential component of FDOT’s Operation STRIDE (Statewide Traffic and Railroad Initiative using Dynamic Envelopes) designed to keep motorists out of the danger zone near railroad crossings.
“Today is a momentous day for rail safety in the state of Florida,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. “In December 2019, Operation STRIDE was announced with one goal: to prevent fatalities on or near rail crossings throughout the state. Thanks to our dedicated staff, the department was able to install all dynamic envelopes well ahead of schedule. One fatality on our rail crossings is one too many, and we will never stop working to improve safety for all Floridians.”
Operation STRIDE is an ongoing effort employing engineering countermeasures, education, and enforcement to provide a comprehensive strategy to prevent fatalities at rail crossings. While the department celebrates the completion of phase one, FDOT remains committed to improving safety at rail corridors across the state.
Moving forward, the department will continue exploring and implementing other innovative technologies and advanced countermeasures to further enhance safety at crossings, including flashing beacons and LED edge-lit signs. These measures have initially been deployed at 14 railroad crossings across the state, with an additional 32 crossings planned.
FDOT will also prioritize partnerships with state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol, sheriffs, and police chiefs to help enforce rail safety laws, and leverage relationships with state and private partners to further educate the public about the importance of rail safety.
The department has several resources on its dedicated Operation STRIDE webpage, including safety tips, videos, photos of completed dynamic envelopes and draft social posts. To learn more about Operation STRIDE and its implementation, please contact the Public Information Office in your district, which can be found here.
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The Florida Department of Transportation’s mission is to provide a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods, enhances economic prosperity and preserves the quality of the state’s environment and communities. The department is committed to building a transportation system that not only fits the current needs of Florida’s residents and visitors but also enhances mobility throughout the state to accommodate its consistent and rapid growth. The unique nature of the Sunshine State and its year-round warm climate provides numerous opportunities to achieve the department’s mission through multiple transportation modes including highways/streets, air, rail, sea, spaceports, transit, and the ever-expanding deployment of bicycle & pedestrian facilities.