Taylor Police Chief John Blair speaks at the April 21 City Council meeting about trains blocking intersections.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
TAYLOR – Police Chief John Blair listened to Mayor Tim Woolley’s concerns about trains blocking intersections and his concern about the impact on public safety during the April 21 City Council meeting.
The city has major rail lines intersecting near Pardee and Northline roads, and running parallel to Racho Road, with active lines managed by Conrail and other freight operators.
Blair said the Police Department has the contacts it needs to discuss concerns with railroad officials.
Woolley said a portion of Beech Daly Road was blocked on April 18 for 14 to 16 hours.
Blair said trains blocking intersections may be reported to the Police Department non-emergency number, 734-287-6611, and asked callers to provide a location and, if possible, the start time of the blockage.
“There is nothing anyone can do about that, but if it becomes habitual, it’s a problem,” he said.
Woolley said he believes it may be a case of the train conductors running out of hours and having to sleep, or they are waiting on a switch-over somewhere, and said he is tired of the excuses that the city has been given.
“It’s nonsense, and I don’t know what’s going on, and no one will give us an honest answer, but it’s ridiculous,” he said. “It used to be if they blocked an intersection, every 20 minutes they had to pay a fine, but they lifted that years ago, and now they are just taking advantage of it because nothing’s happening.”
Woolley said the city is fortunate that it has three fire stations: one on Ecorse Road near Beech Daly Road servicing the north end of the city, one on Goddard Road near city hall, and one in the south end of the city on Eureka Road near Telegraph Road, so first responders are less likely to be blocked by trains when responding to emergency situations.