CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Southwest Side alderman is raising concerns about freight trains that block traffic in his community.
Ald. Matt O’Shea posted on social media a picture of a bicyclist going under a CSX freight train that wound up blocking 111th Street and Sacramento Avenue for 43 minutes Monday morning.
He pointed out the tracks were several hundred feet from the fire station in Mt. Greenwood and could have had serious consequences had there been a call for help.
O’Shea later posted a picture of downed railroad gates in nearby Evergreen Park, saying the gates remained down there for 45 minutes after a CSX train had passed.
After years of meetings over the issue, the alderman asked what it will take to address the public safety issue. CSX said it had signal issues Monday.