[Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks

Thu Nov 20 17:45:29 UTC 2008

In my neighborhood there are railroad tracks at sidewalk level, and I have 
to cross any time I walk from my house to the shopping area.  Because of the 
audible crossing signals I have been crossing safely for 16 years.  However, 
I have heard rumblings that residents in some neighborhoods with similar 
arrangements are complaining that the audible signals and train whistles are 
too noisy, and demanding that they be reduced or eliminated.

Debbie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
To: "Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety" 
<quietcars at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks

>
>
> dEAR aLL,
>
> i HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS KIND OF SITUATION WHERE i COULD NOT HEAR AN 
> APPROACHING TRAIN, EVEN A LIGHT RAIL ONE.
> i SERVE ON SEVERAL TRANSPORTATION bOARDS AND cOMMITTEES THAT OVERSEE THE 
> OPERATIONS OF FIXED ROUTE BUS, pARA-TRANSIT, AND BOTH LIGHT AND HEAVY RAIL 
> SYSTEMS IN THE sOUTH fLORIDA AREA.
> mOST ANYWHERE THERE IS A CROSSING, THERE IS PROTECTION WITH LIGHTS, BELLS, 
> HORNS AND EVEN THE PHYSICAL LOCATION.
> it IS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW TO EVEN WALK ALONG THE TRACKS OR even THE RIGHT 
> OF WAY OF THE RAIL LINES where the heavy rail trackes are at grade level. 
> Most all trains sound a warning, such as a bell or horn when nearing a 
> station or grade crossing which is in addition to the claddering they make 
> from their wheels on the tracks and the sounds the air brakes make.  .
> the LIGHT RAIL IS ELEVATED AND THERE ARE NO PLACES TO EVEN physically 
> CROSS THE RAILS accept AT THE TUNNELS AND BRIDGES WE PROVIDE AT THE 
> STATIONS.  This is done to keep people from possibley coming in contact 
> with the third rail.
> If you have a light rail system that is that silent, I would be surprized.
> I think that we need to stay focused on the "Quiet Cars" and not get 
> sidetracked here.
>
> David Evans, NFBF
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Deborah Kent Stein" <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net
>>To: "Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety"
> <quietcars at nfbnet.org
>>Date sent: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:21:29 -0600
>>Subject: Re: [Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks
>
>
>
>>In our discussions about quiet cars, we've often been careful to
> refer to
>>"quiet vehicles," to encompass trucks and buses as well.  If
> light rail
>>trains are truly silent, as silent as the cars we're concerned
> about, then
>>they *should* make a noise!  For generations bells have sounded
> at railroad
>>crossings to warn drivers and pedestrians that a train is
> approaching.
>>Pedestrians and drivers will need such warnings about light rail
> trains too.
>
>>In the meantime, blind travelers better study up on the train
> schedules and
>>hope the trains stick with them!
>
>>Debbie
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Corbb O'Connor" <corbbo at gmail.com
>>To: "Discussion of new quiet cars and pedestrian safety"
>><quietcars at nfbnet.org
>>Cc: <ben.j.bloomgren at gmail.com
>>Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:12 PM
>>Subject: [Quietcars] Fwd: Crossing light rail tracks
>
>
>>> Good day my quiet car friends.
>
>>> I send this query from Ben on the NABS list with the hope that
> some of
>>> you hear might be able to help. As Michael Townsend has said in
> the  past
>>> on this list, guide dogs may help reduce (though not eliminate)
> the
>>> dangers posed by light rail trains at intersections, I'm curious
> as to
>>> how a cane user would make this crossing safely. I haven't been
> to an NFB
>>> training center, but would be curious as to the considered
> opinion of
>>> those centers on the best way to do this -- other than, of
> course, for
>>> the train to sound like a train and make some noise!
>
>>> Many thanks in advance,
>>> Corbb
>
>>> -----
>>> Corbb O'Connor
>>> studying at the National University of Ireland, Galway
>
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>
>>> From: "Ben J. Bloomgren" <ben.j.bloomgren at gmail.com
>>> Date: November 19, 2008 9:17:57 PM GMT
>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>
>>> Subject: [nabs-l] Crossing light rail tracks
>>> Reply-To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>
>
>>> Hello all,
>
>>> On December 27, the Phoenix area gets its first taste
> (hopefully) of
>>> light rail transit. The ads are already warning about the
> quietness of
>>> the trains and advising pedestrians to look both ways before
> crossing.  My
>>> question is this:  How do blind people cross the street when
> there  are
>>> tracks?
>
>>> Ben
>
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>
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>
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