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After hearing questions and concerns from residents of Five Points and neighboring communities about a proposed closing of the Hoskins Street railroad crossing, High Point City Council postponed a decision Monday night until Aug. 4.

The city, state Department of Transportation's rail division and Norfolk Southern Railroad have been discussing the possibility of closing the crossing that connects E. Kivett Drive to Gordon/Washington Drive rather than constructing gates at both ends of the intersection and a traffic signal.

"Don't sell us out for a half a million incentive package offered by NCDOT," said Angela Wilson-Newsome , interim president of the Five Points Pride Association and owner of Ark of Safety Preschool.

Transportation Director Mark McDonald said Wilson-Newsome was likely referring to the department's offer to forgive the city's $406,000 reimbursement for the construction of a retaining wall along Kivett Drive if the city agrees to close the crossing.

Residents see the crossing as a tie that binds the community together. Closing the tracks will separate residents from their businesses, jobs, places of worship, family and friends.

Wilson-Newsome told the council that the community is separated by the tracks but the Hoskins railroad crossing connects it. She said closing the crossing would also increase commutes by two miles one way and asked if the city had considered how the closing would affect police and emergency response times.

Wilson-Newsome suggested blackout signs that could warn drivers that a train is approaching so drivers could seek another route. This would be used with gates and a signal at the intersection.

Closing the crossing will also dump more traffic into neighborhoods, said residents and Councilman Ron Wilkins , who opposes the closing.

"If the residents don't want it, don't do it," said Walter Johnson of Cedrow Drive.

"If you close it, you don't care for us and have no regard for what we say," said Michael Bass.

Transportation Director Mark McDonald said the city initiated the proposed closure last summer. He, in the past, suggested the proposal came from the state Department of Transportation's rail division but said he misunderstood the history of the project. McDonald became director in the past year.

Jahmal Pullen , a project engineer with DOT; Bob Pressley , an engineer with Gannett Fleming of Charlotte; and Bill Barringer with Norfolk Southern were on hand to answer questions.

Pullen said there have been nine accidents on the tracks since 1976, the last in 1998 . Between 2002 and 2007, 60 accidents were reported at the intersection, mostly cars being hit in the side as the driver attempted to turn left from Hoskins Street.

Pressley said adding stoplights and gates might create new accidents. Instead of cars being hit in the side, officials may start getting reports of fender benders.

Barringer said other countries keep their railways separate from vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The U.S., unfortunately, doesn't do that. So the railroad's main focus is to eliminate accidents as much as possible.

"The easiest way (to prevent accidents) is to close the crossing," he said, adding that no one likes to close a crossing.

Barringer said tracks are private property, so pedestrians on tracks are trespassing.

Pressley said the council will have to factor convenience and safety in its decision to close the crossing. He said it takes a train traveling

at 40 to 45 miles per hour a mile and half to come to a stop, so a train would not be able to avoid a collision if a car or person is on the tracks.

After all comments were heard Councilman Mike Pugh said, "I've heard from the people that (the closure) will affect the most, and I will not vote to close Hoskins crossing tonight or (in the future)."

City council asked staff to prepare answers to residents' questions and provide a report Aug. 4. The council's meeting will begin at 4:45 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of the municipal building, 211 S. Hamilton St.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, ext. 241; or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com