TRENTON, Mich. – Railroad crossings have caused massive delays for many drivers in Trenton for decades. The delays can sometimes be longer than an hour.
It even impacts response times for people suffering from medical emergencies as the crossing at Van Horn Road is less than a mile from Beaumont Hospital, the only two-level trauma center in the area.
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“It’s pretty aggravating,” said Rico Canaby. “It was yesterday or the day before, It was like literally I sat at the train waiting for like 40 mins. And it goes back and forth, back and forth.”
We’ve heard nothing but complaints from drivers in Trenton who constantly have to stop and wait all because of multiple trains in the area.
“A lot of the time you have to drive out of your way to try and get past the tracks and just hope you don’t get caught by the other side of the tracks over there,” said Mannie Riopelle.
It’s been a major concern for Mayor Steven Rzeppa, who’s dealt with the problem his entire life as a Trenton native.
“For as long as I’ve been alive, I remember it being an issue,” Rzeppa said. “A lot of times, folks, I think dismiss it as ‘Oh, OK, It’s just people are upset that they’re late.’ But no, people are worried about being late to work.”
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But what can really be done about a problem that’s been around literally for decades? Rzeppa said there are things that can change it. Just one city over, in the city of Woodhaven, they found a solution through what’s called a grade separation. The difference is that was on a county road rather than a state road. So Rzeppa’s been working to get help from state leaders including Senator Darrin Camilleri.
“I know he’s put forth a bill that would actually create a grade separation fund statewide to help alleviate some of these issues, not just downriver, but in places like Plymouth and Ferndale, up in The Thumb, where they’re also running into some of these issues, as well,” Rzeppa said.
Rico Canaby just hopes something can be done, especially it could be the difference between life and death.
“What if someone’s in the back of an ambulance and they’re dying? You’re pretty much screwed cause you’re caught at a train,” Canaby said.
“In particular, our emergency vehicles heading towards that hospital. That is a huge, unconscionable, frankly, issue that we’ve dealt with,” Rzeppa said. “It’s a much bigger apple than we’re able to bite off and take a bite of individually at the local level but with state and federal resources.”
It continues to be a problem and although people are used to it, that doesn’t mean that they necessarily have to stand for it. The Mayor said everything is all in the planning process and city officials are they are talking to senators and state representatives to get something done, but it’s going to take some time.
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