The Volpe Center is using GIS mapping to study where trespass and suicide incidents occur along railroad rights-of-way, which may help the Federal Railroad Administration and rail carriers understand why a particular incident occurred and implement potential countermeasures.

Every year, there are approximately 270 to 325 fatalities reported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that a state coroner or medical examiner determines to be a suicide. However, systems to determine whether a fatality is a suicide can vary by county. That nationwide inconsistency can lead to variability in determinations of intent for rail fatalities in the United States. FRA and the U.S. DOT Volpe Center are working to understand the criteria that might be included in an improved system for determining the intent of rail fatalities in the U.S., and how feasible it would be to implement such a system.

The Federal Railroad Administration worked with U.S. DOT's Volpe Center and the Association of American Railroads to convene a group of international experts who specialize in suicide prevention on the rail system. This group, known as the Global Railway Alliance for Suicide Prevention (GRASP), has met at least twice per year since 2013 to share best practices and research.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has sponsored a research effort at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center to work directly with rail carriers to identify, implement, and evaluate appropriate suicide death mitigation strategies. One such evaluation is underway with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), and FRA is discussing other evaluations with stakeholder rail carriers.