Washington UTC OKs funds for rail-crossing patrol drone

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) last week approved a $14,525 grant to the town of Steilacoom to purchase a drone to enhance security along a BNSF Railway line.

Funding comes from the state's Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) program. The grant will be used to purchase a small drone and train five officers on how to use it. The officers will use the drone to patrol 2.45 miles of track for hazards, UTC officials said in a press release.

The drone will help officers spot issues sooner, reach areas that are hard to access and reduce delays caused by hazards on tracks. Steilacoom officials anticipate completing the training and purchase of the drone within six months of receiving the grant.

There have been 10 deaths and 152 near-miss incidents along the rail corridor over the past 20 years, said UTC officials. BNSF and Union Pacific Railway trains traverse the corridor daily, they added.