Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service may be exceeding early ridership projections, but a darker reality has emerged alongside the excitement: a rising number of tragic deaths at railroad crossings along the Gulf Coast.
During a Southern Rail Commission (SRC) meeting on Friday, officials discussed both immediate and long‑term strategies to reduce the number of fatalities. Within the next month, the City of Mobile and Visit Mobile will release a safety video focused on proper behavior at railroad intersections. Longer‑term, the SRC is considering using part of a federal grant to install collapsible concrete bollards at select crossings.
“What needs to be addressed in our community is crossing safety,” said Ashley Rains, spokesperson with Visit Mobile…