A: The issue
of safety is being addressed by the proposed solution. For example, at the Lenox
Road crossing, the Atlanta Public Works Department performed a thorough evaluation to determine if it was suitable for
a “Quiet Zone.” They analyzed various factors, including traffic
flow and past accident rates. In their professional opinion, the crossing was
a proper candidate for a “Quiet Zone”, provided that Supplementary Safety Measures (SSM’s) were implemented. The SSM’s include a new four-quad gate (i.e., one that crosses both
lanes of traffic) to prevent anyone from circumventing the crossing, thereby providing greater safety than exists
today. (Right now, cars can still drive around the existing gate – with or without a train horn sounding.) Once the SSM's are implemented, trains can pass through our neighborhood silently,
without compromising safety. If the City had determined that the Lenox Road crossing was not a suitable candidate,
they would not have allowed us to proceed.
Q: The trains have been blowing their horns for years. Didn't the people who
chose to buy homes near the train track know what they were getting into?
A: Even though the trains have been blowing their horns for years,
that does not take into account any changes that have occurred over time. If
the train horns are considered a nuisance, then area residents have every right to pursue opportunties to enhance the neighborhood's
quality of life.
Q: Who in the City of Atlanta is responsible for approving the local
funding for the Lenox Road crossing?
