Whatch yourselves in F-Town

[Scooterb]

From the Fostoria Times
http://www.reviewtimes.com/News/backiss ... 091206.asp

Security around rail crossings tightens


RUSS ZIMMER

staff writer

Fostoria Police Department will be keeping a closer eye on foot traffic on the city's train tracks, Mayor John Davoli said this morning.

The tighter security follows the death of a Fostoria Middle School student struck by a train on Sunday.

Davoli said officers on patrol will be instructed to pay special attention to pedestrians -- children and adults alike. Private security from CSX and Norfolk-Southern will also increase their presence in Fostoria, Davoli said, to monitor for walkers.

"Besides being illegal," Davoli said this morning. "It's also very dangerous."

Tyler LaRue, 13, was waiting with three other youths for a westbound train to pass at the South Union Street rail crossing Sunday afternoon, according to an accident report from the FPD.

After the train cleared the crossing, LaRue headed toward a second set of tracks in use by an eastbound train, of which LaRue was not aware.

He was struck and killed by the train shortly before 2 p.m.

Gary Sease, spokesman for CSX, said Monday the transportation company tries to educate the public about the heightened risks around train tracks.

"It's a matter of reaching motorists and pedestrians alike that railroad crossing and railroad property in general can be a dangerous place to be potentially," he said.

Train horns are one warning sign, though apparently not applicable in the tragic case of LaRue, Sease said, which is why his company initially opposed the Federal Railroad Administration's decision to allow "quiet zones" -- rail corridors through towns where trains are prohibited from sounding their whistles.

"We believe train horns have a very necessary role in safety at the same time we certainly recognize the FRA was trying to strike a balance between safety and relief from train horns," Sease said.

Since LaRue's death, Davoli said he has received some comments from the public concerning quiet zones, with most residents urging extreme caution.

Davoli said a balance must be struck between safety and quality of life, but not of equal weight.

"You have to err on the side of safety tremendously," the mayor said.

By forgoing train horns, Davoli said, the city must have safety measures in place to compensate.

There is a complex analysis done on every grade crossing to determine whether barriers, extended gates, dividers or other precautionary steps must be taken, he said.

"Somebody has to show me it's as safe or safer," he said. "You can't put a number or a factor or an equation on somebody's heartache."

Davoli met with state officials at the Ohio Rail Commission last week to garner advice on the city's draft proposal for quiet zones. An official from the ORC said Fostoria's application was ahead of the curve.

[patrick]

but fostoria isn't a quiet zone. they use their horns there and always have. WTF

[Scooterb]

They are talking about making it a quiet Zone, not a good idea.

[patrick]

lord i hope not.. it'll ruin the trips

[MSchwiebert]

They are talking about making it a quiet Zone, not a good idea.

It's not like they can take the crossings the way they are now and go to having quiet zones tomorrow. Between going to four-quadrant gates, and or median barriers, it takes quite a bit of improvements to enact a quiet zone. In the case of Fostoria, it may actually be better to do so. Think of it like this, Wouldn't it make more sense to use the horn as a true emergency signal - or to have horn noise from all over be ignored because it's so commonplace?

[esprrfan]

Besides even in "quiet zones" if the crew belives a person is in dager of being struck you are required to sound the horn and bell. All that then is required is you call the dispatcher and tell them why you sounded the horn and provide the location.