Below the busy streets of Manhattan, the Long Island Rail Road hosted its quarterly Customer Safety Day on Wednesday in Penn Station. The event showcased riders’ resources on rail safety, information on community programs, and suicide prevention.

The event was simply tucked away in front of the LIRR ticket booth, which featured multiple goodies from PopSockets, from clickable pens to decorative bookmarks. MTA representatives and staff were also present, giving commuters the chance to speak directly with them.

The event started in 2018 with a simple beginning, only appearing two times a year at Penn Station. After a pause due to COVID, the event began to gain traction, expanding the across the LIRR and setting up quarterly appearances at Penn Station and across the LIRR network.

“Obviously, with COVID, there was a dip in ridership, but now ridership is up, and we’re getting a lot more engagements, and the number of people engaging with us throughout the different events,” said Christopher Gough, the LIRR’s vice president of corporate safety.

Besides conducting outreach on train safety, the MTA staff worked to spread awareness about Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, a national event that was taking place on the same date. Staff members distributed pamphlets and notecards containing information about the national crisis hotline (988) and certain behaviors to look out for and encouraged riders to speak openly about mental health and stress.

“We want people to ask questions and we want them to know that we are here to support them,” said Linda Katz, a community outreach manager.

For some attendees, the topic of mental health hit a personal note. Shayla Powell, who visited the event with her daughter, said she appreciated the direct conversation. “I like that she spoke with my daughter about suicide and being sad,” Powell said. “Your life is precious, and you’ve got people here that can help.”

Reminders like these show that railroad deaths and suicides are still an ongoing issue. In 2022, the MTA reported that out of 105 instances of track collisions, 27 of those were suicides, which was a 50 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Besides offering small prizes like pens and stress balls, the event highlighted the LIRR’s Together Railroads And Communities Keeping Safe program. Also known as TRACKS, the program has been informing people from pre-K to 12th grade, and even adults, about railway safety and the dangers of being near the tracks.

The program has been running for nearly 40 years and also gives free 30-to-40-minute presentations covering everything from staying clear of the third rail to avoiding distractions near crossings.

“A lot of times, the teachers are not aware that we are doing these things, so it absolutely helps us,” said Chrisann Fabio, a community relations specialist who helps lead the LIRR’s educational programs.

Looking ahead, the LIRR will continue its efforts to prevent track-related deaths during Rail Safety Week, which begins Sept. 15 and will bring outreach teams to stations across the railroad ranging from Jamaica to Port Jefferson. n

Anjolique Powell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.