JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (April 20, 2015)– Several local mayors and other community leaders are trying to figure out how to pay for railroad crossing safety upgrades, after learning that CSX Corp. will not be required to help pay for any of them.
Mayors and other leaders in communities like Greenwood, Franklin, Whiteland, Columbus and Seymour have raised safety concerns surrounding planned upgrades to the 106 mile Louisville & Indiana Railroad Line. In Jonson County, the railroad has about 20 crossings to the east of U.S. 31. Many of those intersections don’t have crossing arms, flashing lights or both.
Once the railroad is upgraded, the communities will see 15 to 20 more trains per day. The trains will also be longer, faster and heavier. Speeds will increase from 15 miles per hour to nearly 50 miles per hour.
“You’ve got a train that is moving faster through your community, it’s heavier, it’s longer,” said Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers. “It’s not going to stop on a dime if somebody tries to jump those tracks.”
Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness is worried about local drivers, who’ve grown accustomed to slower trains, trying to beat them across the tracks that don’t have flashing lights or crossing arms. He says a strong public education campaign about the changes will be crucial.
“You’re not beating a 15 to 20 mile an hour train anymore,” McGuinness said. “The speeds are doubled if not tripled. And so, don’t do that.”
Although the new, upgraded railroad tracks may not be installed through Johnson County for a few more years, neighbors say they’ve already noticed increased train traffic.
Franklin resident Melody Shook lives next to a crossing on Monroe Street which sits between her neighborhood, a public city park, and the main entrance to Franklin College. The crossing has flashing lights, but no crossing arms.
“There’s so much going on right here in this area that this one definitely need some kind of extra alert,” Shook said.
Her neighbor, Sarah Carroll is concerned about faster trains reaching the intersection much more quickly than what drivers are used to.
“That will make a big difference, I mean huge,” Carroll said. “Because that is a significant increase in speed.”
On Friday, the Federal Surface Transportation Board ruled that CSX will not be required to help pay for safety improvements at the crossings. The decision did not sit well with Mayors Myers and McGuinness.
“If I build a bigger road, I have to improve my crossings,” Myers said. “The state won’t allow me to build a bigger road without improved crossings.”
Both Mayors say they don’t want to stand in the way of increased commerce, but local taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for the upgrades.
Installing crossing arms and flashing lights can cost between $150,000 and $250,000 per intersection.
Myers is still trying to put pressure on CSX by talking to members of Congress.
“Senator Coats is on board with us and is trying to do what he can to help,” he said. “Congressman Young’s office has been helping, Congressman Rokita’s office.”
Myers and McGuinness are also exploring possible grant funding and approaching the Indiana Department of Transportation for help. But INDOT would not have the funding to upgrade all the railroad crossings that are causing concern.
“It’s my understanding that INDOT, through Federal Highway Funding, is appropriated 2.5 million dollars a year for railroad crossing improvement. Unfortunately, that’s for all 92 counties. That’s for the entire state.”
CSX will be required to appoint a neighborhood liaison to answer community questions. The company will also help identify which crossings have the highest safety concerns.
But won’t help pay for any of the improvements, McGuinness said.
