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In This Issue

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DJ Spinoff - Calling All Local DJs!

Ultra DJ Spinoff Complete Rules

The Only Race That Mattered Two artists explore the oft-forgotten history of late-19th century black jockeys

Murder, He Wrote A Nashville judge pens a historical novel based on a shocking 1913 Gallatin slaying

Goin' Down to Georgia Susan Gregg Gilmore’s debut novel keeps the small-town spirit alive

 

 

By This Author

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The Other Volz Eric Volz’s little sister scuffled with her illegal boyfriend and his brother. Now she’s having them deported.

Burgundy Bootlegger Overzealous ABC inspectors investigate a local wine enthusiast and turn up…nothing

Man in the Middle Albert Haynesworth is having the season of his life. With playoffs and a big contract on the line, has this Titan finally put a troubled past to rest?

Language Barrier Courthouse interpreters accused of giving one-sided legal advice to Spanish-speaking defendants

A Neighborhood Railroaded A South Nashville enclave is held hostage by a train crossing

Past Troubles Restaurateur and murder victim Eric Brown had a criminal past

Not-So-Special Education When things go terribly wrong for Metro's most vulnerable students, parents are the last to know

 

 

The Author

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P.J. Tobia

 

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For the past few months, the Scene has documented the battle between the Sadler Avenue community and the CSX railroad company. The community, located in South Nashville between the fairgrounds and I-440, is hemmed in on all sides by train tracks with only one street, Sadler Avenue, allowing access to the neighborhood. That street is crossed by a set of CSX-owned tracks that are frequently blocked by freight trains for periods of 30 minutes to an hour or more, trapping residents in and keeping EMS, fire and police workers out. Recently an elderly resident almost died when he couldn’t get home in time to take his heart medication.

About three weeks ago, the neighbors met with CSX officials—for the second time—and received more promises that blockages wouldn’t happen because a new set of signs had been installed. The signs tell conductors not to block the Sadler crossing except in case of emergency. The neighbors were also told at the meeting that seven trains cross those tracks daily, and that wasn’t about to change.

“The only person who could make a decision about that is our CEO or COO,” CSX spokeswoman Jane Covington told the neighbors.

Also in attendance was a Metro Public Works official who’d developed a proposal for a bridge over the tracks at the north end of the neighborhood.

This would seem to solve the Sadlerites problems, except that the cost of such a project would be north of $3 million at a time when state and Metro budgets are strapped for cash.

State Rep. Janice Sontany, Metro Council member Anna Page and representatives from TDOT were also at the meeting and admitted that the idea of a new bridge was a long shot.

In the meantime, residents claim that CSX trains are back at it again, having blocked the Sadler Avenue crossing on a number of occasions since the first meeting with officials in early January. They say that train operators are ignoring the new signage, and they’re beginning to feel like this is a battle that won’t be won until someone loses a life.

“What happens if a child is crawling under a train trying to get to school and that train moves?” asked Teresa Bates, who has helped organize the neighbors. “What if that child dies?”

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Covington replied. “Railroad-adjacent property is a dangerous place for people to live.”