Greer moves to start road-closure process for Moore Street after SCDOT, Norfolk Southern safety request

Council voted to begin the formal process to consider closing a stretch of Moore Street after staff described a safety initiative coordinated with the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern.

City staff said SCDOT and Norfolk Southern requested the change to reposition crossing arms and eliminate a turning movement that leaves drivers trapped between the arms and the track. "If you pull up there and the arms go down, you're trapped between the railroad track and the arms," staff said, describing the safety hazard.

The resolution referred the closure to the city attorney and starts the public-notification period, with two ordinance readings to follow before any permanent action. Staff said the city would retain ownership of the land initially and that the closure would support a Quiet Crossings application for Line Street, Trade Street, School Street and Abel Street.

Councilors asked whether the railroad and DOT had reliable follow-through; staff said Norfolk Southern had an incentive to invest in safer crossings and staff expected the railroad to participate in engineering and signalization costs. Council members also compared this process to prior street-change debates (for example, Bible Brook Drive) and asked about neighborhood impacts and continuity of access.

Council approved the resolution to initiate the process; the closure will return for formal ordinance consideration with public input and detailed plats.