CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Some drivers around Charlotte are creating dangerous situations when they blow through stop arms at LYNX light rail crossings.
“At the end of the day, if you try and challenge a train, you are probably gonna lose,” said Krystel Green, with Charlotte Area Transit Systems.
As recently as last Tuesday, a truck blew through the light rail crossing on Bland Street as a train was approaching, knocking off the safety arm.
“I was concerned about things getting worse, or maybe another accident could happen,” said Alberto Lopez, the manager of Hot Taco located just feet from the light rail crossing.
Lopez said he has seen his share of near-misses and close calls at the crossing.
“I have seen multiple times where the driver stop right here and the arm comes down,” Lopez said.
CATS officials said that in many instances, drivers don’t pay attention, hit the arms and get dangerously close to the trains.
(Mark Becker's 2016 investigation into light rail near misses)
“They are probably being impatient and they are making a bad decision, so we want them to pay attention and think about rail safety,” Green said.
From January through May, CATS reported more than 50 broken gate incidents. Officials use their extensive camera system to try and identify violators, and if they catch up with them, they will be asked to pay for the damage.
It could cost anywhere from $300 to $500.
“If you can’t make it across those tracks without stopping, you should not start moving. See tracks, think train, be prepared to stop,” Green said.
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