Commissioners asked to consider closing two railroad crossings
Norfolk Southern is asking the county to consider closing two railroad crossings near Birdseye.
Alexander Ricci, an engineer with Norfolk Southern’s safety group, told the Dubois County Commissioners the railroad would like to work with the county to close crossings on King Street and 1175 East in Birdseye.
He stated that in the 22-state area Norfolk Southern covers, Indiana has consistently held the number two spot in crashes or incidents at railroad crossings the company operates. To mitigate this, the company is seeking to reduce the number of crossings lacking gates, safety devices or warning signals.
He said the railroad has identified these crossings as candidates for closure as part of this program.
King Street crosses the railroad tracks twice — one crossing is inside the Birdseye town limits, the other crossing to the west is in the county.
Ricci told commissioners he had approached the Town of Birdseye about closing the King Street crossing in town but they were not receptive to the idea since the majority of the traffic on the street uses the crossing. The town was also concerned about emergency vehicle access. The steep incline from the county access point is impossible for an emergency vehicle to navigate for responses to residents along the street.
Because of this, Ricci asked the commissioners to consider closing the crossing on the county side.
County Road 1175 E accesses State Road 64 east of Birdseye and runs in a horseshoe shape with the crossing at the crown of the 180-degree turn. It is also controlled by the county.
Ricci told the commissioners Norfolk Southern is offering the county $20,000 to close one of the crossings or $50,000 to close both crossings. He also pointed out the state had a grant the county could apply for that could provide up to $50,000 for each closed crossing.
If the county agrees to close the crossings, they will have to issue a resolution, and once approved, Norfolk Southern will cut them a check, Ricci explained. He added the railroad would also do all the work to close the crossings.
Commissioner Elmer Brames and Commissioner Chad Blessinger told Ricci before they agreed to closing the crossings, they would have to hold a public hearing.
Before doing anything else, the two commissioners agreed to put the item on the next meeting agenda to discuss with Commissioner Nick Hostetter, who was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
During the meeting with Ricci, the commissioners asked about the crossing upgrades that were set to occur on County Road 600 West near Duff.
A 27-year-old Evansville man was killed in 2016 when he was involved in a crash with a train at the railroad crossing. Investigators determined he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
Then, in 2018, a Pike County woman was injured when she collided with the side of passing train at the same crossing.
The county noted the warning signs were inadequate for the crossing and worked with Norfolk Southern to add crossing arms. In 2019, the county agreed to pay the railroad about $40,500 for crossing arms to be placed there.
Highway Superintendent Steve Berg told commissioners he thought work on the crossing arms was set to begin in 2023. Ricci stated they could stay in touch with him to keep track of progress on the project.
I am very much against closing the 1175 crossing. When the train crossing in Birdseye at 145 is closed for repairs or a train is sitting on the tracks, this is the only way to bypass that area depending upon how long the train is. I have seen people sitting at the 145 crossing for over an hour and a half while waiting for the train to clear. This is also the way to get to the Hoosier National Forest trails. Yes, it is an awkward turn but this could be straightened out. And the town definitely needs an additional access for emergency vehicles.
Leave it up to a government entity to BRIBE another government entity!!! $50,000.00 bribe with the potential for another $100,000.00 government grant bribe; THIS is how our government works around petty things like communities! Both of those crossings provide alternative by-pass routes for when the train has the main crossings within city limits blocked! How would most anyone like going approximately 8 miles in distance to get from the block south of the tracks to the block north of the tracks? Now consider it if there is a medical emergency, and the first responders are forced to travel that distance to get two blocks from the Firehouse. I bet if it was YOUR family member at risk you wouldn’t care for that travel time!!!
When will this be discussed?
Maybe more to or driving this issue than being let on, but what about an upgraded crossing in one or both locations? Didn’t see anything in the story about that option…understand more expensive…but still could be considered. There have been several county road crossings upgraded in recent years, now with arms and lights/bells, et al.
I have only lived here for 8 years, but have driven to other crossings when 145 was blocked by a train. One day I had an appointment & had to drive past the Birdseye Conservation Club about 8 miles or farther. I had tried 3 crossings & all were blocked. Luckily, I had left early. After all 3 crossings & driving 8 miles or more, I was past 20 minutes or more. Then when I did get to 64, I had to backtrack as my appointment was at Marengo.
In 2016, I had to call 911 for an ambulance for my husband. If the crossings had been blocked then, I hate to think what would have happened!!
Seems to me their (NS) efforts would be better spent starting the upgrade on the crossing at 600W than trying to pick low-hanging fruit that would serve only to make them look better as a company by a veiled appearance of “contributing to safety.” Unless any of these three crossings have been the ones where there have been accidents, this is just for show and to improve their “safety conscience” as it were. 600W was the site of two accidents in two years, one of which was fatal. That’s one that contributed to Indiana’s rankings twice.
This is a small piece of a bigger puzzle under the guise of “safety.” Maybe we should try to connect the dots along the rail. I wonder why it’s taking 4 years and counting to have crossing arms added near Duff? The county has agreed to commit $40,500 in the name of safeguarding travelers. ‘Indiana is consistently number two?’ Where other than Birdseye are mitigations being made?
This was just a recent concern at nearby Huntingburg. They fought for years to have a bypass. It impacted their growth for years.
Now that they have one, the Town is experiencing new growth.
I know the county is not concerned about new growth in Birdseye or this would not be considered. If someone is intoxicated a has a accident it is NOT the trains fault nor the crossing, It’s the drunk.
Why does everybody have to suffer for stupid people’s actions?
When the corn is grown to full height it is very difficult to impossible to see the train on 600 West while seated in a car. You must practically come to a complete stop and slowly peek out onto the tracks to see if the train is coming. This lighted crossing has also been known to malfunction over the years. This is a very heavily travelled road.