Garden City residents are demanding answers after yet another train blocked the Priscilla D. Thomas Way crossing, leaving families trapped in their own neighborhood.Earlier this month, a train sat motionless across the tracks for more than three hours, cutting off more than 20 people from entering or leaving. Neighbors say the problem isn’t new—and it’s getting worse. Residents say the blockages aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re a safety hazard.”This is something that happens about every other week,” neighbor Bow Balance explained. “I can count at least ten times in the past couple of years it’s been more than an hour.”Some shared terrifying experiences of what happens when emergencies collide with train delays.”We had a medical emergency in 2018 when a train was stopped,” resident Joseph Edwards recalled. “They had to pass the patient under the train.”Another parent worried about his son’s safety: “He’s in a wheelchair. We have to think about what happens to him if something goes wrong and the train is parked there. What happens when we can’t get him to the hospital?” said Michael Frazier. On Thursday night, dozens packed the street for a meeting with the mayor and city council. Many pointed to CSX, the rail company that operates the line, demanding immediate solutions.”My concern here today is to point out CSX. We need help. We need solutions. We don’t need excuses anymore. We’ve been hearing excuses since 2018,” Garden City councilwoman Natalyn Bates Morris said.Others stressed they’re not against industry but want cooperation. “All of us who live back here know that we have to work with the industries around here. We’re just asking for the industry to work with us now,” Balance said.Garden City officials say they’ve reached out to the Federal Railroad Administration for help and are urging the public to continue shining a light on the issue.
GARDEN CITY, Ga. —
Garden City residents are demanding answers after yet another train blocked the Priscilla D. Thomas Way crossing, leaving families trapped in their own neighborhood.
Earlier this month, a train sat motionless across the tracks for more than three hours, cutting off more than 20 people from entering or leaving. Neighbors say the problem isn’t new—and it’s getting worse.
Residents say the blockages aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re a safety hazard.
“This is something that happens about every other week,” neighbor Bow Balance explained. “I can count at least ten times in the past couple of years it’s been more than an hour.”
Some shared terrifying experiences of what happens when emergencies collide with train delays.
“We had a medical emergency in 2018 when a train was stopped,” resident Joseph Edwards recalled. “They had to pass the patient under the train.”
Another parent worried about his son’s safety: “He’s in a wheelchair. We have to think about what happens to him if something goes wrong and the train is parked there. What happens when we can’t get him to the hospital?” said Michael Frazier.
On Thursday night, dozens packed the street for a meeting with the mayor and city council. Many pointed to CSX, the rail company that operates the line, demanding immediate solutions.
“My concern here today is to point out CSX. We need help. We need solutions. We don’t need excuses anymore. We’ve been hearing excuses since 2018,” Garden City councilwoman Natalyn Bates Morris said.
Others stressed they’re not against industry but want cooperation.
“All of us who live back here know that we have to work with the industries around here. We’re just asking for the industry to work with us now,” Balance said.
Garden City officials say they’ve reached out to the Federal Railroad Administration for help and are urging the public to continue shining a light on the issue.
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