Clayton County (Ga.) Police Department
More Thursday morning rail news:
Truckload of mattresses burns after being hit by train in Georgia
No injuries were reported when a stalled tractor-trailer rig caught fire after being struck by a Norfolk Southern train in Rex, Ga., on Wednesday afternoon, snarling traffic in the community a dozen miles southeast of Atlanta. WXIA-TV reports the truck was carrying mattresses, which caught fire and were expected to burn for hours. Norfolk Southern said the 47-car train was en route from Garden City to Austell, Ga.
Colorado Springs seeks to relocate part of Joint Line to replace bridges, increase clearances
The City of Colorado Springs, Colo., wants to relocate the Joint Line railroad tracks south of downtown in order to replace a century-old bridge, a move that would displace homes and businesses. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports the proposed $42 million project would replace a bridge over south Tejon Street build in 1902 and another over Nevada Avenue built in 1948, which do not have sufficient clearance for the roadway. Lowering the roadway is not an option because of driveways adjacent to the bridge location. About 20 property owners could be affected, with eight to 10 permanently displaced, according to a consultant. Funding for the project could come from grants or a possible ballot measure; BNSF Railway and Union Pacific, which use the rail line, are also expected to help cover the costs.
SMART to hire financial officer from Denver’s RTD
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit will hire Heather A. McKillop, chief financial officer of Denver’s Regional Transportation District, as its new chief financial. The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports McKillop will replace outgoing CFO Erin McGrath as of Nov. 30, and will be charged with helping the agency through the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Obviously it’s a very critical position, and you want to make sure it’s filled with someone who will come in and be incredibly competent and put in the effort, and I think we have that with this candidate,” SMART board member David Rabbitt, a member of the hiring subcommittee, told the newspaper.
