While students may be out of school for the summer, city and county leaders are working behind the scenes to address a serious safety hazard that impacts their commute year-round, a rail crossing near McReynolds Middle School that regularly leaves children with no safe way across.

Many Fifth Ward residents are seeking some sort of relief, complaining that stalled trains in the area have become a major nuisance, sparking safety concerns. Federal officials were touring the area with city leaders on Wednesday in an effort to stop the proposed merger of two rail lines which, they said, could worsen the problem.