{"id":6815,"date":"2017-02-09T21:56:55","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T04:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stapletonion.com\/?p=6815"},"modified":"2020-07-13T03:50:12","modified_gmt":"2020-07-13T03:50:12","slug":"groundhog-hears-shadow-train-horn-to-blast-for-six-more-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stapletonion.com\/?p=6815","title":{"rendered":"Groundhog Hears Shadow; Train Horn to Blast for Six More Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In a recent Front Porch article<\/a>, RTD<\/a> acknowledged the A Line train horn would be blaring for at least another six months. They came to this conclusion after using the most sophisticated technology at their fingertips; the groundhog. \u201cWe have a groundhog, named Thomas,\u201d explained RTD spokesperson Tina Jaquez. \u201cEvery six months or so we pull him out to see if he hears his shadow. If he hears his shadow, we know it will be at least six more months where we will have to use the train horn to alert people at the crossings.\u201d The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) says the A Line is not up to safety standards in regards to crossing gates going up and down in a timely manner. \u201cWe need to fix a few bugs,\u201d says Jaquez. \u201cBut, we really don\u2019t know how to fix those things. It probably seems like it would be easy, given the technological advances of today, but we just aren\u2019t sure where to start. So, we will keep using the groundhog until we get a better idea.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The explanation doesn\u2019t sit well with those living near the train crossings. \u201cI was totally fine with this at first,\u201d said Central Park North resident Jill Propp. \u201cBut it is getting absolutely ridiculous. I am pretty sure we could get the brainpower in Stapleton to figure out a way to make sure these gates go up and down at the right times.\u201d Steve Otto also is struggling to understand the problem. \u201cThey use these trains all over the country,\u201d argues Otto. \u201cYou\u2019re telling me they can\u2019t find one contract worker to come out here and get them going in the right direction? It seems like they aren\u2019t making any progress. And of course they aren\u2019t; they\u2019re relying on a groundhog!\u201d Jaquez says it is possible that the A Line will be fully functional in six months, and they may be able to stop using the horns. \u201cThere\u2019s a chance we will be able to operate to FRA standards in six months. But, that\u2019s really not up to me. You\u2019re going to have to ask the groundhog.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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