Peril isn’t restricted to dark corners and treacherous hikes. You can actually find it in some of the places you least expect, including this dangerous railroad crossing in  Arizona. Don’t be too afraid because there are tons of beautiful train rides in Arizona to take, but it’s never a bad idea to be informed!

That’s right, railroad crossings; and it seems obvious when a massive locomotive is moving down a track, even at a snail’s pace.

Clay Gilliland/Flickr But did you know the Federal Railroad Administration named one railroad crossing in Phoenix the most dangerous in the country?

In fact, the FRA notes that Arizona is home to the five most dangerous railroad crossings in America, all following Grand Avenue in Phoenix and Glendale.

Google Maps Their criteria for labeling a crossing as “dangerous” is if it had at least 10 reported incidents of trains hitting vehicles (or vice versa) or hitting pedestrians within the past decade. In total, these five crossings have amounted to 89 incidents and 14 injuries but (thankfully) no fatalities in the last 10 years.

The most dangerous of these is located here at Thomas Road and 27th Avenue, with 24 incidents and two injuries.

Google Maps

In a 12 News interview with a railroad safety supervisor for the Arizona Corporation Commission, the causes of the incidents stemmed from outdated safety technologies.

Screenshot from 12news.com Better timing for warning lights would help prevent drivers from stopping in the marked crossing areas or even on the tracks.

Thankfully, the city recently began working to improve these railroad crossings by making safety upgrades.

Screenshot from 12news.com For the most dangerous location, this included moving safety gates and installing new signals. Upgrades on the other four crossings are underway as well.

If this story bummed you out a bit and you need some uplifting news, you’ll be glad to know that Arizona’s Sky Harbor airport was named the best in the country back in 2016! So we do have some great transport in the copper state.

Clay Gilliland/Flickr

But did you know the Federal Railroad Administration named one railroad crossing in Phoenix the most dangerous in the country?

Google Maps

Their criteria for labeling a crossing as “dangerous” is if it had at least 10 reported incidents of trains hitting vehicles (or vice versa) or hitting pedestrians within the past decade. In total, these five crossings have amounted to 89 incidents and 14 injuries but (thankfully) no fatalities in the last 10 years.

Screenshot from 12news.com

Better timing for warning lights would help prevent drivers from stopping in the marked crossing areas or even on the tracks.

For the most dangerous location, this included moving safety gates and installing new signals. Upgrades on the other four crossings are underway as well.

Have you ever seen something crazy happen on one of Arizona’s railroads?

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Thomas Road & North 27th Street, Thomas Rd & N 27th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA

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Most Dangerous Railroads in Arizona December 24, 2021 Tori Jane What are some dangerous cities in Arizona?   Arizona is a wonderful place to live, though some places do tend to be a bit safer than others. According to AckermanSecurity.com, the top five most dangerous cities in Arizona are: 

Globe Tolleson Page Winslow Tucson.

Why do these make the list? Well, there are numerous reasons; these towns have the highest rates of both property and violent crimes out of every city in Arizona (with a population of more than 5,000 people). For example, Globe has 2,141 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, which makes it the most dangerous city in the state. Tolleson actually surpasses the property crime rate of Globe, with 9,185 property crimes per 100,000 residents reported. Of course, these statistics shouldn’t frighten anyone away from visiting Arizona, or even those towns. How many Arizona railroads are in operation today?   There are 2 major Arizona railroads in operation today:

 BNSF Railway Union Pacific Railroad

  The first railroad to be built in Arizona was the Southern Pacific Railroad, which ran from Los Angeles, California, to Maricopa Wells in 1879. Nowadays, the Copper State is home to less than 2,000 miles of operating railroads, although it once had much more. Arizona has only ever had two Class I systems, but it’s home to many more short lines – nine, to be exact – and rail use has slowed since the early 1900s; however, its use has remained pretty steady since the 1980s. Then there are the “for fun” kind of railroads, like the Grand Canyon Railroad and Hotel. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Most Dangerous Railroads in Arizona

December 24, 2021

Tori Jane

What are some dangerous cities in Arizona?   Arizona is a wonderful place to live, though some places do tend to be a bit safer than others. According to AckermanSecurity.com, the top five most dangerous cities in Arizona are: 

Globe Tolleson Page Winslow Tucson.

Why do these make the list? Well, there are numerous reasons; these towns have the highest rates of both property and violent crimes out of every city in Arizona (with a population of more than 5,000 people). For example, Globe has 2,141 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, which makes it the most dangerous city in the state. Tolleson actually surpasses the property crime rate of Globe, with 9,185 property crimes per 100,000 residents reported. Of course, these statistics shouldn’t frighten anyone away from visiting Arizona, or even those towns. How many Arizona railroads are in operation today?   There are 2 major Arizona railroads in operation today:

 BNSF Railway Union Pacific Railroad

  The first railroad to be built in Arizona was the Southern Pacific Railroad, which ran from Los Angeles, California, to Maricopa Wells in 1879. Nowadays, the Copper State is home to less than 2,000 miles of operating railroads, although it once had much more. Arizona has only ever had two Class I systems, but it’s home to many more short lines – nine, to be exact – and rail use has slowed since the early 1900s; however, its use has remained pretty steady since the 1980s. Then there are the “for fun” kind of railroads, like the Grand Canyon Railroad and Hotel. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Arizona is a wonderful place to live, though some places do tend to be a bit safer than others. According to AckermanSecurity.com, the top five most dangerous cities in Arizona are: 

  • Globe
  • Tolleson
  • Page
  • Winslow
  • Tucson.

Why do these make the list? Well, there are numerous reasons; these towns have the highest rates of both property and violent crimes out of every city in Arizona (with a population of more than 5,000 people). For example, Globe has 2,141 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, which makes it the most dangerous city in the state. Tolleson actually surpasses the property crime rate of Globe, with 9,185 property crimes per 100,000 residents reported. Of course, these statistics shouldn’t frighten anyone away from visiting Arizona, or even those towns.

How many Arizona railroads are in operation today?  

There are 2 major Arizona railroads in operation today:

  • BNSF Railway
  • Union Pacific Railroad

 

The first railroad to be built in Arizona was the Southern Pacific Railroad, which ran from Los Angeles, California, to Maricopa Wells in 1879. Nowadays, the Copper State is home to less than 2,000 miles of operating railroads, although it once had much more. Arizona has only ever had two Class I systems, but it’s home to many more short lines – nine, to be exact – and rail use has slowed since the early 1900s; however, its use has remained pretty steady since the 1980s. Then there are the “for fun” kind of railroads, like the Grand Canyon Railroad and Hotel.