Tri-Rail is asking its own people to become the first line of defense against tragedy on the tracks, rolling out a new "Are You OK?" suicide-prevention campaign that leans on frontline workers to spot and help people in distress along the South Florida Rail Corridor.
Unveiled this week at the rail authority’s Pompano Beach headquarters with Henderson Behavioral Health, the effort pairs eye-level posters at stations with hands-on training and direct referrals to mental health services. The goal is straightforward, if ambitious: cut down on trespasser incidents and deaths that have spiked across South Florida’s busy rail lines.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority said in a South Florida Regional Transportation Authority release that a $56,500 Federal Railroad Administration grant will cover the cost of the program and training for SFRTA employees, contractors and regional partners. The initiative mixes targeted public education with scenario-based instruction so that station agents, conductors and other workers can recognize warning signs and quickly connect people to help, the agency said.
That urgency is backed by sobering data. The authority’s release noted that Florida ranked second nationwide for railroad trespassing casualties in 2025, with 65 fatalities and 70 injuries. Along the South Florida Rail Corridor alone, officials reported 12 trespasser strikes in 2025, nine of them fatal, and 14 so far in 2026, 10 of which were fatal. "Every life lost on our rail corridor is one too many," SFRTA Chair Marci Woodward said in the release. South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.
Henderson Behavioral Health CEO Dr. Steven Ronik framed the move as part of a wider mental health crisis unfolding across the region. "Over the last fifteen years, suicides in South Florida have gone up by 67%," he said at the Pompano Beach news conference, according to WLRN.
What is in the campaign
The "Are You OK?" rollout is built around a simple idea: train the people who are already out there. The campaign includes new posters in stations, in-depth training for employees and contractors, and a plan to use those workers as a "bridge" to behavioral health providers for anyone spotted loitering near the tracks or showing signs of distress.
Officials said the work starts with initial training sessions and is designed to expand across contractor crews and regional partners as the program grows, according to reporting by the Sun Sentinel.
Experts say fences and outreach both matter
Safety advocates are quick to add that conversations alone will not solve the problem. Engineering fixes such as fencing, better lighting and clearer crossings have been shown to curb trespassing, and experts say those physical barriers need to work alongside human intervention.
A reporting team that examined rail safety in South Florida cited the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s view that "the best way to prevent suicide deaths is to limit access to lethal means," and pointed to significant drops in trespass incidents after fencing went up along certain stretches of track. WUSF reviewed that evidence.
How riders can help and where to get help
Tri-Rail officials are also asking the public to play a role. Riders and neighbors are urged to respect "No Trespassing" signs, stay off the tracks and alert staff or law enforcement if they see someone who appears to be in danger or acting erratically near the rail line.
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers more information about the lifeline and local mental health resources. SAMHSA.
SFRTA said more details will be posted on Tri-Rail’s website and social media as the training calendar is finalized. Officials noted that initial sessions are underway this week and will continue as trainers fan out to contractor crews and other frontline partners.
