Crime & Safety
Metrolink Grant Hopes To Curtail Suicides In San Juan Capistrano
A year-long grant will support San Juan Capistrano area Metrolink stations in their effort to curtail suicides on the tracks.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Metrolink announced Thursday it had received a $59,000 federal grant to fund a campaign aimed at deterring people from committing suicide on its train tracks.
Suicides accounted for 40 percent of all trains striking pedestrians between 2017 and 2019, Metrolink officials said. The campaign is both mental health-focused, as well as safety-focused, according to Metrolink officials.
Four hot spots that Metrolink is focusing on for the new grant from the Federal Railroad Administration include north Orange County sites between Anaheim and Santa Ana and South County spots between San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.
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The grant will fund an outreach campaign focused on training and public engagement, along with targeted awareness efforts.
Other areas of focus to the north include the San Fernando Valley between Van Nuys and Burbank; and the San Fernando/Sylmar area.
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Metrolink officials said a contributing factor to suicides by train is the prevalence of homeless people living near the tracks.
According to the agency, research shows that the "availability of a means of death" is a major factor in suicides.
Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins spoke on the grant and finding a way to curtail the hopelessness of those who seek to end their lives through whatever means are available.
"Metrolink is eager to work with law enforcement and community groups to help in any way we can to educate individuals homeless encampments about options available to them," Wiggins said. "This grant is a force multiplier for our efforts to keep people safe in the vicinity of our tracks."
The agency already displays the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255, on posters and its electronic signs at rail stations.
Metrolink staff will work on the outreach campaign with a team of psychologists from the University of Denver Transportation Research Center.
The project will last 12 months.
City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.
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