CAUGHT ON CAM: CATS, school buses driving around railroad barricades

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By Elsa Gillis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 caught CATS buses, as well as school buses, driving through barricades Monday morning and crossing railroad tracks in northwest Charlotte that were clearly blocked off.

The crossing on Rozzelles Ferry Road at Honeywood Avenue is blocked off while crews rip up the rail track.

But despite the barriers being in place with several "road closed" signs, Channel 9 watched as vehicle after vehicle ignored the signs and drove through the small opening onto the tracks, including three school buses and three CATS buses.

It is worth noting that Channel 9 did see one school bus obey the signs and turn around.

Shortly before 7 a.m., crews came out to the crossing and re-arranged the barricades to make it more difficult for anyone to go around them.

Eyewitness News reporter Elsa Gillis showed other drivers the video and asked them what they thought.

"When you look at that video, is it clear to you that it's closed?" Gillis asked driver Daryl Springs.

"Yes, that's something else right there," Springs answered.

"They just didn't take consideration about safety. That's the only way I can look at it," driver Walter Williams said.

CMS declined Channel 9's request to view the video, but officials said, "anyone driving any CMS vehicle is charged with obeying traffic laws. Drivers are reminded to be aware of the existing traffic control mechanisms."

CATS released a statement to Channel 9:

Our Safety & Security division as well as the Bus Operations division reviewed the video from the bus in question from 6:45 this morning. After review it was determined that  the driver’s lane of travel was open and the other side of the street was barricaded. The driver adhered to the rules of the road as well as CATS’ safety procedures (i.e. stopping to look at a rail crossing).

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