Politics & Government

Decision on School Street Crossing Coming

"We're getting pressure from the DOT" to close it, Mayor Tommy Allegood said during Wednesday's town hall meeting with residents.

Within 30 days, Acworth will decide if it will follow the recommendations of CSX and the Georgia Department of Transportation and close the School Street railroad crossing, Mayor Tommy Allegood said during Wednesday's town hall meeting with residents.

"The DOT has given us a really bad grade," he told the crowd assembled inside City Hall. "Of course, anybody that drives over that thing knows that it's not safe."

In February 2010, a U.S. Food Service driver abandoned his semi when the tractor-trailer got stuck on the tracks. An oncoming CSX train pushed the truck at least 40 yards down the tracks, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.

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One woman at Wednesday's meeting said she had a close call of her own when her car got stuck on the tracks.

"Thank God there was a tow truck that came by," she said. "I really hate it because until you get to the very top, you (can't) see where you're going. It's a very dangerous crossing."

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While Betty Simmons acknowledged that the crossing is "not safe," she said "there'll be no more crossings for us on the north side" if it's closed.

"It's unfair," she said, "for all the crossings to be for the south side."

Scott Sprayberry, who lives in the 4700 block of Northside Drive, doesn't support the closure of the School Street crossing.

"Closing that street is really going to shut us off from all that's going on down here," he said. "I use that crossing all the time. Is there anyway to correct the grading instead of closing it totally? We really hate to be even more ostracized from downtown."

Allegood said the city won't proceed without additional input from residents.

"Before we close it," he said, "you'll be notified because we have to hold an official public hearing. It's not going to be closed without anybody knowing about it."

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