CLINTON, Iowa — Clinton’s city council has unanimously approved a $1 million agreement with Canadian Pacific to address impacts of its proposed merger with Kansas City Southern, KWQC-TV reports.
Under the agreement passed Tuesday night, the city will receive the funds if the Surface Transportation Board approves the first merger of two Class I railroads in two decades. In return, Clinton officials agreed not to oppose the merger.
Some $100,000 of the funds would be earmarked for permanent closure of a grade crossing at 21st Avenue North. Other funds would help fund create quiet zones at 12 other crossings.
Clinton becomes at least the fifth Iowa city to reach a similar agreement with CP, joining Davenport, Bettendorf, Muscatine, and LeClaire.
The STB will begin at least three days of hearings on the CP-KCS merger today in Washington.
The 21st Avenue North crossing is a dirt road and a set of crossbucks. Not significant. It certainly doesn’t cost $100k to pull 2 crossbuck signs out of the earth and post a “Dead End” sign with reflectors.
As part of a crossing closure, it is usual practice to install some type of “turn-around” for vehicle traffic. At these locations, a “T” type turn-around is usually installed. Most of the time, guardrails and end-of-road warning signs are also installed.
Quiet zones are an engineers nightmare and increase the risk of an accident with vehicles and pedestrians.