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Early-morning trains draw complaints
(by Sue Reid - April 07, 2010)
Early-morning trains draw complaints
By SUE REID
Solon Councilman William I. Russo told City Council Monday that he has received complaints over the past few weeks from residents regarding the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad.
The rail line, which runs through the Village of Glenwillow and Solon's Ward 7, which Mr. Russo represents, often operates at any time, he said. The main reasons for the complaints were that the train is now running between 3 and 6 a.m. and in the past it ran after 6 a.m., he said. The train runs through the Arthur Meadows subdivision, along the back of Glenallen Avenue into the city's industrial area.
"I'm well within 500 feet of the tracks," Mr. Russo said of his home. "I'm well aware of the problem. The simple fact of the matter is, the tracks were there before the development was. We all bought our homes knowing full well the tracks were there."
He said the railroad company has the right to use its lines at any time it chooses, even before 6 a.m.
"I talked to representatives from the railway, and there's a misconception they were not allowed to go through neighborhoods before 6 a.m., and that is false," Mr. Russo said. "Federal regulations control the use of the rails. The city and the state government have absolutely no say in how they operate."
Mayor Susan A. Drucker said she also received complaints and "reached out" to the railroad company to ask for its cooperation to limit the noise. "We will try to keep that friendly relationship," she said.
Mr. Russo said the railroad company is doing its best to limit noise and inconvenience. "That was the only thing they committed to," he said, "to try to not operate before 6 a.m. but they could not promise that."
In addition, Mr. Russo said, by federal regulations, the railroad company is required to blow the whistle three times when approaching an intersection. "In order to accommodate residents, they have not been doing that," he said, "but occasionally it happens. "They have been exceptionally proper in minimizing activity."
Mr. Russo said that a couple of times over the last few months, one of his neighbors was driving over the tracks when the train was approaching the intersection.
"They saw the car and they blew the whistle to let them know they were coming," Mr. Russo said.
He said several years ago when the issue was looked at and putting up a gate or a quiet zone was explored, the city did not qualify for either. He also said that the railroad company has connecting issues.
"That is what is controlling when they operate," he said. "There's a lot more on the logistics side rather then where they are going in Solon."
The "silver lining" in the whole situation, Mr. Russo said, is that, because the train is running, there is business. "That's the only positive we can take out of this, that business activity is picking up.
"Everyone wants the services the city provides and that takes revenue," he said. "The revenues come from city taxes and property taxes."
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