As residents and taxpayers of Newton, Ks-for all too long we have been plagued being late to work, meetings, and the like by trains blocking all major crossings in town for extended periods of time. As a city, we have all but let this happen by not speaking up about the problem. If you have been a Newtonian for more than one day, odds are you have been affected in some way, shape, or form.

Trains are getting longer, and with that, longer waits, with the only alternative to (as many Newtonians say) "turn around and hop on the nearest ramp to go around". With our police stations set in the heart of downtown, there is delayed response from our first responders to arrive to the south side of town when an emergency arrises. If no change occurs, wait times will only continue to increase, response from Police and medical will take longer, and we as a city will only ever be stuck in the same place we always have been. It is time.

It's time for accountability to take place for the City of Newton and BNSF, and to give community members a better solution and answer to this ever growing problem.