San Marco Railroad Crossings

[thelakelander]

Just came across this question posted on Jacksonville.com.  For all the railroad fans out there....enjoy.

Dear Call Box: There are trains that run through San Marco during rush hour, some weeks almost daily. I have timed how long I have had to sit waiting on them and it can be as long as 15 minutes.

I don't understand why a city as large as Jacksonville and with as much apparent potential would allow them to traverse such a busy neighborhood and stop traffic dead during rush hour. Is this anything the city can control or does the railroad just get to do whatever it wants? - J.M., Jacksonville

Dear J.M.: This has been a problem since the popularization of the automobile. The next time you encounter a blocked track, pick up your cell phone and call the railroad emergency number, (800) 342-1131, and click the number for blocked track. You could call the local office, (904) 538-6100, or send them a letter at FEC Railway, Suite 300, 7411 Fullerton St., Jacksonville, FL 32256.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/402032/jessie-lynne-kerr/2011-02-06/call-box-why-do-trains-rumble-through-san-marco

[dougskiles]

I saw that too.  I never knew that you could call and complain about the train.  I would prefer to have a JTA hotline to call at those moments and count off the number of potential customers they would have on the Skyway if they extended it across the tracks.

[thelakelander]

The replies on Jacksonville.com are hilarious.  The Call Box is taking a beating.

[Lunican]

The emergency number to report a "blocked track" is to report something that is on the track and potentially about to get hit by a train, not to report a train blocking you.