Fort Wayne Observed

Spell Check Laid to Rest

 An autumn day along Indiana State Road 124.

Photo credit: Fort Wayne Observed | Mitch Harpercemetery misspelled as cemetary
 

Cable Barriers: Praised as Lifesavers

Fort Wayne Observed has previously noted the value of cable barriers in saving lives on Indiana highways.

Emily Hagedorn of the Louisville Courier Journal reports that Kentucky officials are citing cable barriers erected on northern Kentucky and southern Indiana highways as proven lifesavers. Ms. Hagedorn writes:

Transportation and law enforcement officials say median cable barriers in Jefferson and Bullitt counties in Kentucky and Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana may have saved hundreds of lives since they began appearing along area highways in 2006.

The barriers, which are cheaper than their concrete counterparts, improve safety by clamping down on vehicles when struck, preventing the vehicle from rebounding into traffic. They also absorb the energy of an impact more than concrete barriers do, minimizing injuries to passengers and vehicle damage.

“They have been extremely successful … dramatically so,” said Lt. Doug Sweeney, commander of the Louisville Metro Police traffic unit.

Governor Favors Fort Wayne in High Speed Rail Application

The administration of Governor Mitch Daniels has announced that it favors a high speed rail route running through Fort Wayne in its application for federal stimulus money for the project.

You may download the application by clicking here.

The preferred route would take rail passengers to and from Chicago and Cleveland via a route through Toledo, Defiance, Fort Wayne, Plymouth and Warsaw,

However, the application also requests study also requests funds to study an alternate route through South Bend and Elkhart that would have its closest stop to Fort Wayne in Waterloo. South Bend already has a connection to Chicago via the South Shore commuter railway.  Fort Wayne residents have been discouraged from using the current, slower, Amtrak passenger service because of the boarding location at Waterloo.

The application contemplates eight round trips between Chicago and Toledo with half being express trains.