WASHINGTON — Matthew Lane, general manager of Pinsly’s Pioneer Valley Railroad in Massachusetts, has been named Safety Person of the Year by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association.
Lane joins Herman Crosson, Anacostia Rail Holdings’ chief safety and compliance officer, in earning the ASLRRA’s top individual safety awards. Crosson was previously announced as Safety Professional of the year [see “McKechnie honored …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 6, 2025].
“Matt is a pro-active leader, always looking around the bend to identify issues before they arise,” Pinsley Railroad Co. CEO Ryan Ratledge said in a press release. “He does an excellent job communicating with the team and giving all the employees an opportunity to collaborate on safety-related topics, asking for feedback and soliciting suggestions. Matt’s leadership style and focus on safety creates a top-tiered safety culture at PVRR.”
In addition to monthly safety meetings with Pioneer Valley employees, Lane recognizes workers for prioritizing safety and seeks their input on safety-related topics. He helped organize emergency responder training across all Pinsly railroads, involving police and fire departments, railroad customers, and contractors.
Lane and Crosson will be honored at the ASLRRA’s annual conference and exhibition in Denver, April 6-8.
“They are collaborative leaders who work with their teams to improve safety, emphasizing feedback, transparency and trust,” said ALSRRA President Chuck Baker. “We look forward to honoring them in front of their industry peers at our upcoming Annual Conference.”
