Reducing Pedestrian Collisions Through Blended Outreach and Engineering

Mike Conlon

doi:10.56094/jss.v53i2.90

Authors

Mike Conlon Metro Transit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v53i2.90

Keywords:

pedestrian safety, transportation, rail, crosswalk, hazard management

Abstract

Many are familiar with the traditional “three Es” of safety: Engineering, education and enforcement. In the transit industry, we routinely apply these in our pursuit of forward-looking hazard management. This article documents how Metro Transit in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area blended public outreach (education) and engineering to enhance pedestrian safety.

Author Biography

Mike Conlon, Metro Transit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

Mike Conlon is director of rail and bus safety for Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, a post he has held since February 2000. As the senior safety professional for Metro Transit, Conlon is responsible for all safety aspects of the agency’s bus and rail operations. He also leads system safety planning and safety certification efforts for LRT and Commuter Rail projects. His experience spans more than 30 years in the transit and railroad industries, primarily in operations and safety. Prior to Metro Transit, Conlon worked as an associate for Booz-Allen & Hamilton, an international consulting firm, working on projects for a number of transit agencies. Preceding agency work includes nine years in operating and safety positions at Maryland Mass Transit Administration.

Conlon earned a BS degree from Gannon University and an MBA degree from the University of Baltimore in Maryland. He is certified by the World Safety Organization as a certified safety and security director (CSSD) and as an OSHA outreach trainer.

He joined the Transit Associate Staff Program of the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) in August 2008. He currently teaches transit rail system safety, safety management systems and rail incident investigation.