By Jason Martin
jmartin@mckenziebanner.com
A letter to the people of Carroll County from Carroll County Commissioner Jason R. Martin concerning the recent tragedies on Harris Road.
To the Citizens of Carroll County:
The deaths of Destiny Henry on August 13 and Luke Scott and Martin Perez on September 6 at the railroad crossing on Harris Road are a tragedy that weighs on the hearts of this community. These deaths are not to be ignored, as they have shed light on an issue that needs to be addressed about this crossing and others like it.
In this moment of profound grief, it's crucial that we resist the urge to assign blame. Fingers pointed now do nothing to heal the gaping wounds in our hearts or bring back the vibrant young lives that have been so cruelly cut short. The raw, undeniable fact is that a problem exists, a terrifying flaw in our safety net, and it must be addressed.
Over the last several days, I have received numerous phone calls and messages encouraging me, as a Carroll County Commissioner, to fix the problem. My deepest desire is to do just that. While this is a horrific tragedy, at the county level, there is only so much that can be done in matters of transportation due to bureaucratic red tape.
During Monday night's meeting (September 8, 2025) of the Carroll County Commission, the legislative body was informed by Chief Deputy Joel Pate of the Sheriff’s Office of the process that will have to take place in order to add safety devices to the Harris Road crossing.
The first question is, who is responsible for the signal lights or bar system? That would be determined by the location of the road, i.e. city, county or state. In this instance, Harris Road is a county road, but Carroll County can not just freely write a check towards the installation, which would cost between $350,000 to $500,000.
In order to begin the process, the county has to make a request for a diagnostic review to CSX Railroad and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
Once the review has been submitted, TDOT then provides an engineering study for the safety signals.
According to Chief Pate, TDOT representatives have stated that due to the multiple deaths and accidents at the crossing, the case would be considered “high priority.”
The good news is that the State of Tennessee receives around $5.4 million annually from the federal government to be applied to transportation grants. Being considered a high priority would almost guarantee the county the necessary funds for the safety signals.
The bad news is that the entire process, on average, takes about two years; if we were to get lucky, then a year at best.
This is an example of bureaucratic red tape at its finest. While all parties have been cooperative and willing to come to the table for conversations, it does not expedite the process.
In order to expedite the process, this falls onto the people of Carroll County. Pressure has to be applied on the proper departments.
I implore each and every one of you to contact the following:
TDOT Rail and Freight Division: (615) 741-4031
CSX: (904) 359-3200
Representative David Kustoff: Washington, DC (202) 225-4714; Memphis, TN (901) 682-4422; Jackson, TN (731) 423-4848; Martin, TN (731) 412-1043
Senator Marsha Blackburn: Washington, D.C. (202) 224-3344; Jackson, TN (731) 660-3971
Governor Bill Lee: (615) 741-2001
State Senator John Stevens: (615) 741-4576
State Representative Tandy Darby: (615) 741-7847
State Representative Brock Martin: (615) 741-7478
I honestly do not have a quick solution to the problem. If it was up to me and Carroll County had a never-ending wellspring of funds, we would put safety apparatuses at every railroad crossing in the county. Unfortunately, funding and red tape are the constraints that we must work through to solve our issues.
For now, the most immediate, albeit inconvenient, temporary solution is to close Harris Road until a permanent solution can be discussed and implemented.
A previous traffic study revealed approximately 60 vehicle crossings occur daily on Harris Road. That number shocked me. While this closure would undoubtedly cause disruption, it may be the only way to safeguard precious lives until we find a lasting solution.
In closing, let me reiterate this point: we at the county level are going to do all we can to find the best solution. But this problem is far too vast, far too complex, to be confined to the county alone. It demands attention and action at the state and corporate levels.
Emotions are high, but I promise we will find a solution.
Jason R. Martin
(731) 352-3323
jmartin@mckenziebanner.com
Carroll County Commissioner District 9
General Manager - The McKenzie Banner
