Showing posts with label railroad crossing blocked by trains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label railroad crossing blocked by trains. Show all posts

Want to Report Railroad Crossings Blocked by Trains?

Lately, I hear and read a lot of complaints from Galionites getting stopped at railroad crossings blocked by trains, and I often hear that there's no one to complain to who can do anything about it.

Report Blocked Railroad Crossings in Galion


But, there is an agency that WANTS to do something about it - the PUCO - and they are asking people to report blocked crossings to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Report Blocked Railroad Crossings in Galion
Blocked Railroad Crossing image courtesy of Pixabay


The PUCO provides a form on their website that anyone who encounters a train blocking the crossing can fill out.

The form is even designed to be filled out EACH TIME a train blocks a crossing, so, for example, if you get caught waiting on trains around the same time every day at the crossing on Portland Way (Which is, by the way, crossing number: 262040V - the crossing number is needed for the form), you can go to the PUCO's form and enter that information every day if necessary.

The PUCO Rail Division


The PUCO Rail Division does explain that they have no authority over blocked railroad crossings, BUT, they are collecting this information as part of a partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration, which is also called the FRA - and the Federal Railroad Administration does have authority over this.


To give you a bit more information on this, blocked railroad crossings have become a nationwide problem, and it's been an ongoing problem for a while in this country (not only in Galion.) 


The more reports the PUCO and FRA get, the more accurate their information will be, and the more they will be able to do something about the problem.

The Form to Report Blocked Railroad Crossings


The form asks a number of questions, but it's a fairly short form.

  • Crossing Number: Crossing numbers aren't common information, but there is a link under the blank that takes you to the FRA page to determine the crossing number.
  • Street: Optional, because the crossing number tells them the street location
  • Date Observed: Mandatory to submit the form
  • Time of Day: Optional but helpful
  • How Long the Crossing Was Blocked: Mandatory to submit the form. 
    • If you left before the crossing reopened, you can mention that in the "Other conditions related to the blockage" box, just mention how long you waited or how long you know it was blocked.) 
  • Cause: (Optional - If Known)
  • Train Stopped or Moving: Most of the blockages I've seen in Galion, the train is simply stopped and blocking the tracks, but be sure to add this information.
  • Direction of Train Travel: ...
  • Other Conditions Related to the Blockage: ...
  • Impacts to Community: This is where you get a chance to share information about things like emergency service vehicles unable to navigate to the hospital or a fire, etc. 
    • It's also your chance to mention things like trains blocking the track and making you late for work or anything you may have been late in attending.

Contacting the FRA Directly


While following the directions provided as part of this project is the best chance of Galionites ever actually getting a remedy for this situation, you can also contact the FRA directly if you feel the need, and contact info for the FRA follows...

The FRA has regional offices across the country, and you can visit this online map to find details about contacting the regional FRA office directly. 

(Based on the map, Galionites would contact the Region 2 office at (800)724-5992 or FRA headquarters at (202)493-6014.)

No one can really guess at this point what, if anything, will come of Galion citizens filling out this form about blocked train crossings in Galion, but two things are certain:
  • The squeaky wheel gets the grease... 
  • Remaining silent on the issue ensures the Federal Railroad Administration will put their attention elsewhere when they start to make changes. 
    • (After all, if they don't know, they can't fix it.)
Filling out the form costs nothing, they don't even ask for your name on it, and it's a short, easy form to fill out. 

So, if you've been feeling annoyed with all the blocked train crossings lately, this is your chance to complain to someone who has the power to do something about it.

Labels

Galion weather forecast covid-19 Bucyrus Galion hotel Mansfield Things to Do in Galion back to school in Galion back to school shopping coronavirus galion galion ohio hotels in Galion shop for school supplies in Galion stay in Galion 2018 2020 census 4th of july Arby's Curly Fries Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich Arnold Schwarzenegger speech Avita Healthcare System in Galion Avita in Galion Bomb Threat Burger King China Garden Discount Drug Mart El Tarasco FRA Federal Railroad Commission Fried rice Galion Arby's Galion Chamber of Commerce Galion Little Caesar's Galion Middle School Galion Ohio Coronavirus Updates Galion Ohio housing Galion Ohio weather Galion Oktoberfest 2019 Galion Subway Restaurant review Galion YMCA Galion grocery Galion hospital Galion pizza Galion pizza shops Galion schools Galionite General Tso's Chicken Get the details on some of Galion Ohio's historic buildings and the importance of preserving them. Happy 4th of July January 12 weekend weather forecast July 2 Little Caesar's Mayor O'Leary Memorial Day Services in Galion 2018 Memory Lane Mexican food Monday motivation Oktoberfest 2018 cancelled Oreo Bites Shopping in Galion Splash Park Taylor's closing Thanks for Visiting Galionite The Citadel RPG and Gaming Tubbys Pizza Whopper with cheese activewear after-school activities in Galion avoid heat stroke back-to-school backpacks benefits of solar power best Galion blocked crossings blocked railroad crossings buy school supplies in Galion census data change your life children's essentials clothes for summer camp commercial plumbing crab rangoon dealing with stress dealing with the unknown desk accessories distance from Galion to other places east of Chicago in galion education levels in Galion excuses facemasks galion coronavirus galion inqurer leaving galion galion ohio news galion weather geyers closing goal setting tips groceries in Galion grocery stores in galion gym clothes how far is Galion from Columbus Ohio kroger mystery shopping scam less stress lies little caesars in galion local galion news new years resolutions news and publishing news trends no excuses ohios first female sheriff old navy 4th of july sale opportunities in Galion pandemic unemployment assistance pandemic virus visits Galion people moving out pickle run festival places to eat in Galion pool at Heise Park pua publishing trends railroad crossing blocked by trains school shoes school uniforms should I go solar solar as an investment solar panels solar power st patricks day star rating stress relief summer camp clothes for kids summer camp outfits sun protection sunblock sunday motivation taco salad the galionite truth warm weather Galion activities weather spotter weekend weather forecast why we fail winter storm

Check Out Our Most Popular Posts