August 15, 2022

R. J. Corman Signaling’s Donation to Safety City Helps Educate Thousands of Fayette County’s Future Drivers in Railroad Crossing Safety

Pictured from left to right: Matthew Hamlin, Sr. Systems Engineer, R. J. Corman Signaling, Rich Barsalona, General Manager R. J. Corman Signaling, Rocky Metz, AVP of Engineering R. J. Corman Signaling, Officer Anthany Beatty Jr., and Officer Jerome Bean of the Lexington Police Department, and Mark Boyle, Vice President of R. J. Corman Railroad Services.

On Friday, August 5th, R. J. Corman Signaling had the honor to finalize the donation of a railroad crossing signal to Safety City in Lexington, KY. Safety City is a safety education program managed by the Lexington Police Department geared to educate children in second grade about road safety and other initiatives.

In Safety City, a child-sized city replicating a real-life driving scenario, students get to drive specially designed electric cars while receiving driving instructions and safety recommendations from the Lexington Police Department officers.

A sample of the electric cars that second graders drive in Safety City.

An integral part of the experience for the students is the railroad crossing the young drivers will encounter on the route. The railroad crossing equipment was overdue for an upgrade after more than 30 years of service. The R. J. Corman Signaling donated upgraded flashing light signals, crossing bells, signs, and controls for the mechanism to work. With the assistance of R. J. Corman Railroad Services, they installed the new devices adding up to almost $10,000 in donations.

R. J. Corman team members removing Safety City’s old equipment to install the upgrades.

Part of the R. J. Corman team that helped install the new railroad crossing signals for Safety City. (From left to right) R. J. Corman Signaling AVP of Engineering Signaling, Rocky Metz, R. J. Corman Signaling General Manager, Rich Barsalona, R. J. Corman Signaling Sr. Systems Engineer, Matthew Hamlin, R. J. Corman Railroad Services Signal Specialist, Jared Lundy, R. J. Corman Railroad Services Signal Specialist, Travis Lundy, R. J. Corman Railroad Services AVP of Signal Construction, Larry Yeager, R. J. Corman Railroad Services Signal Construction, Ryan Hale.

Safety City’s new railroad crossing signals.

“This donation is a huge enhancement for Safety City,” said Officer Anthany Beatty Jr. of the Lexington Police Department. “R. J. Corman has been more than overly generous for the time and equipment donated. We serve second graders throughout the Lexington community and outside of Fayette County, and this upgraded crossing will help us teach about pedestrian safety and driver safety. This gift will impact a great number of kids,” continued Beatty.

“We are glad we could partner with the Lexington Police Department and Safety City. It is in R. J. Corman’s DNA to help the communities we serve. Safety City’s emphasis on safety aligns perfectly with one of our company’s pillars ‘Safety is our number one priority.’ Railroad crossings and tracks are critical elements of the urban landscape, and railroad crossing safety education is essential. We are glad we can contribute to this great program and the education of tomorrow’s drivers,” said Rich Barsalona, R. J. Corman Signaling General Manager.

For more information about Safety City and its programs, please click here: Safety City | Website