Comments on: Freight Train Hits MARTA Bus at McDonough Crossing in Decatur This Morning http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/ Decatur Georgia News, Events, Atlanta News Tue, 16 Sep 2014 04:07:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0 By: Tom Stubbs http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/#comment-391043 Thu, 23 May 2013 22:32:07 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=27284#comment-391043 I know those horns are loud for folks who bought homes near the tracks, but SaferCrossing is not Safer. It is just an effort to stop the noise pollution (and I admit it is loud and bad for those who live near a crossing) caused by horns. Unfortunately, those horns are critical for safety. The extra gates are good, but even they are not foolproof. The loss of routine use of horns poses a direct threat to the safety of our children. We have neighborhoods and schools abutting the tracks. With children and adults spending huge amounts of time with earbuds in and music up, we need horns. Just last May a train ran down a kid in St. Louis. An article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last December noted that “Based on the miles driven each year, pedestrians are killed by freight and passenger trains at many times the rate they are killed by motor vehicles.” (article at: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/hundreds-die-walking-the-tracks-each-year/article_b9c8bbcc-f424-559a-a0c4-bee46f8d4fe7.html ) Finally, under the regulations covering implementation of “quiet zones,” the railroad has the right to require our city to assume liability for injuries that may occur at these crossings, completely removing the little shred of incentive we have for the railroads to operate their trains safely. I would rather see us spend the money to add more tunnels under the railroad (such as the one at Agnes Scott) or a pedestrian overpass between Renfroe and Howard, which will cost a bundle and require hard negotiations with the railroad, but they will enhance safety where we need it.

]]> By: At Home in Decatur http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/#comment-390812 Thu, 23 May 2013 15:35:22 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=27284#comment-390812 Over my dead body…..

Interesting factoid (as in I haven’t checked it out in years), the highest rates of rattlesnake bites are 1) among rattlesnake owners; and 2) among young adult males who have been drinking in rattlesnake country.

]]> By: Sheep Dog http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/#comment-390758 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:59:26 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=27284#comment-390758 I now have the “Dumb Ways to Die” tune in my head. Very catchy.

]]> By: lumpintheroad http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/#comment-390737 Thu, 23 May 2013 13:26:24 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=27284#comment-390737 So there’s really a push for rattlesnake ownership in your household? Hmmm…

]]> By: smalltowngal http://www.decaturmetro.com/2013/05/22/freight-train-hits-marta-bus-at-mcdonough-crossing-in-decatur-this-morning/#comment-390357 Thu, 23 May 2013 01:43:17 +0000 http://www.decaturmetro.com/?p=27284#comment-390357 (1) The engineer would probably have had to hit the brake in Clarkston.
(2) Are you thinking of the same MARTA I’m thinking of?

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