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Highlands Today

False Railroad Crossings Cause Confusion

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

The Town of Lake Placid has had problems on multiple occasions with the railroad crossing on Interlake Boulevard.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: November 20, 2007

LAKE PLACID — Every 16-year-old driver's education student is taught the basics, including stop for all active railroad crossings.

But on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 13, several frustrated drivers ignored the red flashing lights and loud clanging, and skirted past the downed safety arms while crossing the tracks on Interlake Boulevard, just east of DeVane Park.

Fortunately on that evening, and at least 10 times during the past four months, the CSX-controlled signals malfunctioned, and no train rolled through the Interlake Boulevard intersection.

Several public officials and council members were caught at the false alarm following the evening's special town council meeting, including Arlene Tuck, town clerk.

Tuck said she was very frustrated and after a few minutes turned around, motored back through the circle and crossed the tracks at another section of town. Motorists are able to take lengthy detours and cross the tracks at Heartland Boulevard or Lake Drive.

Several school buses, while transporting students to and from school, have encountered the false active crossing signals.

David Soloman, director of transportation for the School Board of Highlands County, said students have experienced delays of up to 15 minutes while stranded in traffic.

"They're stuck there and you can't turn around if there are cars behind you, and you can't back up," said Soloman. "It does create a problem, but not a major one."

Shelly Komasa, an office assistant at town hall, was recently delayed at the train crossing during the midday.

"One day I didn't even get to go to lunch," said Komasa. "It's aggravating. I had to sit there and wait –– up front of me, the driver wouldn't go."

Police Chief Phil Williams said police typically receive a handful of calls when the railroad arms go down without need, with no train crossing.

"It's a difficult situation for an officer," said Williams. "The railroad company told me it's illegal to raise the arm, even if it's an officer."

Williams met with representatives from CSX about a month ago and learned that the railroad company is reconstructing nearby tracks, which could inadvertently set off sensors designed to sense an approaching train.

"It's the price of doing business any time you have commerce. People complain about truck traffic, but not the large amount of goods being brought in.

"I am convinced that (CSX) cares," said Williams. "It's the price of doing business."

Gary Sease, spokesman for CSX, said the company uses more than 6,500 road crossings in Florida.

He said on Monday that motorists are sometimes more likely to illegally cross tracks after a series of false activations.

Sease said every CSX train intersection is marked with a toll free phone number which allows motorists to notify company representatives in Jacksonville of a false activation.

Williams said CSX employees are quick to manually reset the gates and the longest delay was about an hour long.

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