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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thanks very much. I am glad to hear that
it is at least designed to have the gates come down in the event of failure –
even if that can’t be guaranteed. One challenge to looking both ways as
you cross the tracks – it’s sort of difficult in a car until you
are actually on them!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Vernon Archer
[mailto:varcher@gmail.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, August 25, 2009
6:41 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> lisagrob@verizon.net<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [RP TownTalk] New-Old
Topic: Railroad Crossing Safety</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Lisa,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Your question is very worth asking and I'll try to answer it as
straightforwardly as I can. The crossing was repaired and according to
the CSX is working correctly. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>When you ask "could this happen again" I certainly cannot
guarantee that any mechanical/electrical system will never fail. I
can say it is highly unlikely to fail in a way that leaves the crossing
open--they design the system so that it SHOULD close if it fails, not
stay open. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We do all though have a recent example that the system can fail
and leave the tracks open, so I think it is ALWAYS wise to
look both ways and be aware when crossing the tracks. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>While on the topic, I believe that the same approach should be taken
with traffic lights. They too have failed in the past (not too
mention people run them occasionally), and a wise person will continue to
check the side streets regardless of what the signal says.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Drive defensively seems a good motto to me ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Vern<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 1:29 PM, <<a
href="mailto:lisagrob@verizon.net">lisagrob@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A month or so ago I believe it was Dwight that observed the railroad
gates not activating as appropriate and trains coming through without any
notice to vehicles on Queensbury. Someone had replied that the electronic
system was being worked on. Understood. But you can't just let vehicles go
across the tracks when trains are coming through. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I want to know - could this happen again? Are we taking our lives in
our hands every time we cross the tracks? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>I am raising this again because I didn't hear back from anyone on this
when I initially raised my concerns on this list.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>-Lisa Grob<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
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-- <br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vernon</st1:place></st1:City> Archer,
Mayor<br>
Town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Riverdale Park</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Maryland</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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