'Blocked Crossings' website keeps track of trains in Jackson Township

 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ind.-- Elkhart County gets a lot of trains passing through, and sometimes those trains stop, blocking roads, sometimes for hours at a time.

Jackson Township in Elkhart County says they are the first to use technology to track blocked and open crossings.

According to County Commissioner and former sheriff, Brad Rogers, they used to ticket train companies for blocking roads for more than 20 minutes at a time. But, he says, the Indiana Supreme Court took away their power to write those citations.

"I'll tell you, the public and first responders are really tired of being held hostage with blocked crossings," Rogers said.

His goal now is to at least inform folks quickly when roads are blocked.

BlockedCrossings.com was created by a Goshen-based LLC. A camera is set on each crossing sign, monitoring for flashing lights.

If the railroad crossing lights are flashing, it means the crossing arms are down and the road is blocked.

The website is live.