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Public Safety Not an Issue If Quiet Zones Designated
Public safety should not be impacted much, if at all, if at least eight railroad crossings that go through parts of the City of Galesburg are closed.

That's according to both the Galesburg Police and Fire Chiefs. They told that to Galesburg aldermen during a City Council work session on the proposed "quiet zones" Monday night. The city wants to close the eight crossings and, if federal railroad officials approve, ban trains from blowing their whistles in those areas.

Aldermen and residents were concerned if firefighters and police officers would have a harder time responding to calls if the quiet zones are implemented. Interim Fire Chief Tom Simkins says he doesn't think so.

"I would say the program has very little negative impact on us," Simkins said. "We don't typically use the streets that will be closed anyway. We typically cross at Broad, West Main, maybe Prairie Street, and Seminary. And going east, we cross the subway or Main Street. The ones that are being closed, we just don't use."

Police Chief David Christensen agreed, and said that his officers are usually pretty good getting around blocked train crossings already, and he doesn't see that changing.

Both said that the three proposed rail crossing grade separations also being worked on will help response times for police, fire, and ambulances immensely.
11 24 09 by Newsroom
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