Submitted by Trailmagic t3_z7sobg in baltimore
Every other place I’ve been, yellow or yellow flashing lights have meant “caution” not “incoming train - stop or be crushed”.
Maybe I missed some other signals, but if not, yellow flashing traffic lights did not convey to me that my path was about to be intercepted by a train, and it is a little scary.
Edit: it was a light rail not the MARC train
Smallest MARC train yet
Fair amount of time but new to living in Baltimore proper so not much time driving across downtown like that. And you are correct it was the light rail.
Never stop on the tracks. And they will just honk at you (but not crash into you) if you are. The lights are usually synced to let you get out of there if you do get caught.
I didn’t stop on the tracks. I don’t even cross traffic lights until I know I can fit because I hate being that dude stranded in the intersection.
I stopped before the yellow lights because I noticed the oncoming light rail, but not because of the yellow flashing lights. If they were red I would have stopped anyway had I not seen the light rail. Yellow just seems a poor choice for the warning lights.
If there is some other signal off on the side of the road I was supposed to notice, not everyone is aware of them and traffic to your right could block your view (if there is one over there).
I just think the the lights should have been red. I am not sure if this is who its set up, but if it is, it’s dumb and dangerous (with a very simple fix).
The light rail follows the same traffic pattern as cars. They stop at red traffic lights and go on green. If a car is stopped on the tracks they lay on the horn.
You don’t have to “yield” or even really pay attention to the lightrail, just follow the traffic lights.
If the traffic light was flashing yellow it’s broken or something else wrong.
If the MARC train was crossing E Pratt, there has been a serious miscalculation in train speed by the conductor.
What you saw was the Light Rail, assuming you were at Pratt and Howard? What color was the traffic light?
Ah ok you are correct about the locomotive. The light was yellow and blinking.
The Traffic light above the street was blinking yellow or the lights on the side of the street warning that a train was coming was blinking yellow?
The traffic lights above the street were blinking yellow.
Sounds like a traffic light malfunction, report on 311.
That's the light rail. The traffic light didn't also turn red?
No it was yellow the whole time. It was flashing, and I was approaching with caution but they were definitely yellow. You are correct it was the light rail.
Ah. Sounds like it wasn't working correctly. Normally that's a red light. Good thing you're cautious, I've seen people just blow through flashing yellows.
Please report to 311. this sounds like a signal malfunction
I am so glad this was not an actual MARC train...
But yeah, I am cautious around the light rail tracks. From Linthicum to Hunt Valley, you don't want to be caught on the tracks.
Definitely call 311, because the light should have been red. You’re not crazy, the light rail train follows the same traffic signals as every other vehicle on the road
Lol, this had to be the light rail. Unless the MARC derailed horribly and just went crashing through downtown Baltimore at full speed.
Yes. That is the edit in my post added about 12 hours ago and a minor detail people seem fixated on while it doesn’t really change the idea behind this post.
There was a young man who died earlier this year from a light rail train that hit his car when the barriers didn't come down. Be careful!
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/fatal-car-accident-involving-light-rail-linthicum/38961382
The barriers worked fine he ignored them.
The video evidence showed that the gates weren't all the way down.
>"On February 3, 2022, Anne Arundel Traffic Safety Investigators responded to the Maryland Mass Transit Administration Facility to review video footage from the above incident. During this review, it was learned the train entered the intersection while the roadway gates were in the process of lowering. Although the overhead alternating warning lights were functioning properly at the time of the crash, the roadway was not completely blocked by the gates when the crash occurred. Investigators are now also looking into the possibility of operator error on the part of the MTA train operator. The traffic Safety Section continues to investigate. Additional updates will be provided when available."
Yeah, and he ignored them and died.
The point is they weren't down yet and that it's possible for an operator error to cause that to happen again. Which is literally what almost happened to the OP.
There are no gates on howard street. The point is the driver felt entitled to drive around the gates as they closed and now he's dead.
wasn’t there a video of a guy getting hit by the light rail on Howard street a few years and basically split in half or dragged or something wild? Not about to go looking for it but vaguely remember something like that
Lol I love how your brain chose MARC as the train, meanwhile MARC stock has the name plastered all over the side. Is that just the only rail based transport you're aware of in Baltimore?
Beneficial-Pickle787 t1_iy7yk7f wrote
Lol that’s the light rail train on Howard St. How long have you been in Baltimore?