Parents are concerned about wide open Light Rail track running next to their homes. They want a safety fence to help keep kids off the tracks.
There is only one fence separating the Ingleside neighborhood from the tracks that will carry Light Rail through the neighborhood. It leaves a lot of track wide open.
"If you ask common sense wise you would say of course, but it's not within the budget guidelines," said Nikki Southall, a neighbor and concerned parent.
Southall has enough to worry about when trying to keep up with her two young children and a nephew. Ingleside Rd. is right outside her front door and when the Tide starts to roll, there will be nothing between her kids and the tracks.
"I think it's an accident waiting to happen. I think they should be able to put this fence up and shrubbery to keep people away," she said.
There isn't much to keep kids from the tracks - just a small ditch, some concrete, and then the tracks. Local residents are afraid that if something isn't done, the station will be an accident waiting to happen.
HRT spokesman Tom Holden says HRT has opted for a massive public education campaign instead of building fences. It will start this spring in all Noroflk elementary schools within a mile of any train stop.
"Public education works. That's why we know that when people are told to behave in a way that is safe, they do that," Holden said.
In fact, it's already started with online cartoons starring "Earl P. Nutt" - cute, but ineffective, according to Nikki Southall.
"That's not going to work. When you tell kids not to do something, they are going to do it. The bus stop is right across the street and every day I see them, some of them are paying attention, some of them aren't," Southall added.
Neighbors say they will continue to try to convince HRT to change its mind about fences, but are afraid change may not come until a child gets hurt.
There is only one fence separating the Ingleside neighborhood from the tracks that will carry Light Rail through the neighborhood. It leaves a lot of track wide open.
"If you ask common sense wise you would say of course, but it's not within the budget guidelines," said Nikki Southall, a neighbor and concerned parent.
Southall has enough to worry about when trying to keep up with her two young children and a nephew. Ingleside Rd. is right outside her front door and when the Tide starts to roll, there will be nothing between her kids and the tracks.
"I think it's an accident waiting to happen. I think they should be able to put this fence up and shrubbery to keep people away," she said.
There isn't much to keep kids from the tracks - just a small ditch, some concrete, and then the tracks. Local residents are afraid that if something isn't done, the station will be an accident waiting to happen.
HRT spokesman Tom Holden says HRT has opted for a massive public education campaign instead of building fences. It will start this spring in all Noroflk elementary schools within a mile of any train stop.
"Public education works. That's why we know that when people are told to behave in a way that is safe, they do that," Holden said.
In fact, it's already started with online cartoons starring "Earl P. Nutt" - cute, but ineffective, according to Nikki Southall.
"That's not going to work. When you tell kids not to do something, they are going to do it. The bus stop is right across the street and every day I see them, some of them are paying attention, some of them aren't," Southall added.
Neighbors say they will continue to try to convince HRT to change its mind about fences, but are afraid change may not come until a child gets hurt.
