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Not just a small-town problem: Georgia’s stalled trains endangering communities

Lilburn resident Charlotte Owens said while she was having a heart attack, EMS couldn't get to her because of a stopped train blocking the crossing.

Savannah Levins, Gabriella Nunez, Mike Nicolas, Darrell Pryor, Ciara Bri'd Frisbie

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Published: 6:00 AM EST February 22, 2024
Updated: 3:43 PM EST February 28, 2024

Despite promises from state and federal leaders to address the issue, reports of trains blocking railroad crossings continue to pour in from Georgia residents.

In the past year to date across Georgia, more than 650 complaints about trains stopped or stalled on the tracks were submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration's Blocked Crossing Incident Reporter. That portal was established by the FRA in 2019 as a way for the public and law enforcement to report blocked crossings in response to a growing number of complaints.

But FRA Administrator Amit Bose said the agency is limited in its authority to compel railroad companies to do anything about it.

"There is not a regulation at the federal level on blocked crossings," said Bose. "The portal is a useful tool but it doesn't give us enforcement authority. It doesn't give us the ability to fine railroads if there's a situation where they're blocking crossings."

While the collection of data may be relatively new - the issue itself is not. In fact, some neighbors say it's only getting worse. 

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