Grade crossing a magnet for suicides? And how is slowing the train down going to help with the suicides?

The obvious way to reduce grade crossing issues is, of course, grade separation, which the CITY is responsible for, not the railroad. In rare cases, the railroad might choose to participate because it gets a benefit, but the railroad is not required to grade-separate itself unless it's going to be a BART or a HSR.

If the problem was away from the crossing, one might have a better argument that the railroad should fence the right of way better, perhaps with solid barriers along streets. Crossing problems, though, are a "sorry" unless the PUC is brought in and mandates a change in operation.

Hmmmm. If a grade crossing is designated as a "pedestrian mall" PUC could order a 20mph speed limit...