Winter Park City Talk

Spring Cleanup begins this week

It’s that time of year again! Now is the time for spring cleaning and the city of Winter Park encourages residents to participate in the city’s annual Spring Cleanup.

The annual Spring Cleanup provides an extra “bonus” pickup day so that residents can dispose of old furniture, broken appliances and other bulky items. To take advantage of this convenient service, residents must place their items curbside after 5 p.m. on the evening prior to their second regularly scheduled pickup day.

Quadrant Assigned pickup day

North of Fairbanks/Aloma avenues Week of April 29

South of Fairbanks/Aloma avenues Week of May 6

PLEASE NOTE: Hazardous waste, electronics and yard waste are not included in the Spring Cleanup.

For more information regarding Winter Park’s annual Spring Cleanup, please contact Utility Billing Customer Service at 407-599-3220, or Waste Pro at 407-774-0800.

Stay away from the tracks

Sunday, May 5, through Saturday, May 11 is Train Safety Awareness Week. Please stay away from the tracks at all times.

• About every three hours, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in the U.S.

• Fifty percent of all crashes occur within five miles from home.

• A motorist is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.

• Last year, more than 800 people were injured or killed while trespassing on railroad property in the U.S.

As part of the on-going effort to enhance the public’s awareness of the dangers that exists at highway-rail grade crossings, the Winter Park Police Department has joined forces with Operation Lifesaver, and other law enforcement officials, to spread an important safety message – “Stay away from the tracks - stay off, stay away, stay alive.”

Motorists and pedestrians can expect the Winter Park police to have an enhanced visible presence at highway-rail grade crossings beginning Sunday, May 5, and stop anyone who fails to follow the common sense tips shown below:

Drivers:

• Do not get trapped on the tracks. Proceed through a highway-rail grade crossing only if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train is three feet wider than the tracks on both sides.

• Trains and cars don’t mix. Never race a train to the crossing — even if you tie, you lose.

• The train you see is closer and faster-moving than you think. If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.

• Be aware that trains cannot stop quickly. Even if the locomotive engineer sees you, a freight train moving at 55 miles per hour can take a mile or more to stop once the emergency brakes are applied. That’s 18 football fields!

• Never drive around lowered gates. It’s illegal as well as deadly.

• If your vehicle ever stalls on a track with a train coming, get out immediately and move quickly away from the tracks in the direction from which the train is coming. If you run in the same direction the train is traveling, when the train hits your car you could be injured by flying debris. Call your local law enforcement agency for assistance.

• At a multiple track crossing while waiting for a train to pass, watch out for a second train on the other tracks approaching from the other direction.

• Always expect a train! Freight trains do not follow set schedules.

Pedestrians:

• The only safe place to cross is at a designated public crossing with either a crossbuck, flashing red lights or gate. If you cross at any other place, you are trespassing and can be ticketed or fined. Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings.

• Trains overhang the tracks by at least three feet in both directions. Loose straps hanging from rail cars may extend even further. If you are in the right of way next to the tracks, you can be hit by the train.

• Do not cross the tracks immediately after a train passes. A second train might be blocked by the first. Trains can come from either direction, so wait until you can see clearly around the first train in both directions.

• Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property, and trespassers are subject to arrest and fines. If you are in a rail yard uninvited by a railroad official, you are trespassing and subject to criminal prosecution. You could be injured or killed in a busy rail yard.

For more information, please visit: oli.org, twitter.com/olinational, or facebook.com/operation.lifesaver

Stay connected with Winter Park PD via: facebook.com/WinterParkPD and twitter.com/wppdcpu

Visit the city’s official website at cityofwinterpark.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and watch us on Vimeo.