Ossoff investigating train delays in Georgia cities
Jon Ossoff
Special PhotoFrom staff reports
ATLANTA — U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is working to solve traffic challenges at railroad crossings across Georgia.
Ossoff, D-Ga., has launched an inquiry with the Federal Railroad Administration as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into trains causing traffic delays.
As part of his inquiry, Ossoff is submitting testimonials from cities, counties and constituents across the state encountering blocked railroad crossings, harming residents’ abilities to get to work, school, the grocery store, doctor’s offices and more.
“When freight trains block one or more major roads in our cities and towns, it can also become a public safety issue,” Ossoff wrote. “First responders are delayed in responding to calls for emergency medical assistance, fires, or cases of violence that need police intervention. Divided communities regularly deal with missed doctor’s appointments, school tardiness, and the daily frustration of a 15-minute trip to the grocery store turning into an hour-long event.”
“The train in Juliette is more than just something we think about or watch pass through,” Juliette resident Andrea Goolsby wrote. “It significantly impacts the day-to-day life of the residents here and our neighbors in Jones County.“It has been an issue for many years but seems to be happening way more frequently, where the train just stops, blocking traffic for hours on end.”
“Last Friday, the train pulled through downtown and blocked two separate crossings that span approximately five city blocks,” Griffin City Manager Jessica O’Conner wrote. “It started at 2:40, and when I left for the day at 4:54, it was still there.”
“The citizens of Henry County experience almost daily delays due to trains blocking our roads for extended periods of time at critical junctures in our community,” Henry County Commission Chair Carlotta Harrell wrote.
“For the last five years, blockages have been for more than two hours,” attorneys for the city of Garden City added.
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