LANSING, Mich. – Many states have attempted to address long delays at grade crossings by passing legislation to limit how long a train can hold up traffic. But the Michigan legislature is moving to adopt a different approach: eliminate the crossings altogether.
The Michigan Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would create a permanent statewide grade separation fund to build bridges and underpasses at the state’s most problematic railroad crossings. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Darrin Camilleri, said in a press release that the delays are also a risk to public safety: “They prevent our police officers, fire department and EMS from responding to emergency situations,” he said.
The bill now moves to the Michigan House for consideration.
New York State had a program to do this decades ago? Wonder what happen to it?
I don’t know, but that program may explain the big relocation projects on the NYC Main. Syracuse is the famous one from 1935. Herkimer (1943 I think), Little Falls (1947) to lessen the curvature of Gulf Curve and a BIG project involving moving the Mohawk River. Batavia NY in the 1950’s also involved relocating the Lehigh Valley and its soon-to-be-abandoned passenger station. The last was Oneida NY completed in 1965. What I notice is that these relocation projects were one after the other. Only Little Falls didn’t include grade crossing elimination; Syracuse did away with its infamous street-running interurban-style for passenger trains.
I believe the City of Chicago passed a rail elevation ordinance in 1895. The deadline was 1925. The Illinois Central was the last one to finish just weeks before the city deadline. So in this case it took 30 years.
And they still need CREATE today to sort it all out.
which railroad crossings in michigan are they explaning ?
While this may be a great idea and all over the country, ideas like this have been floated about building tunnels, underpasses and overpasses but this can take years to build and complete as well as the enormous amount of money and costs involved. It can be done at the most heavily traveled intersections and grade crossings but not at every one of them. Pedestrians, cars, trucks and other road users must learn and be educated on the proper way and safety when crossing railroad tracks and be taught that trains can be expected at any time. Even better law and traffic enforcement must be enhanced and put in place with heavy fines for violaters and possible jail time for repeat offenders. If cars and trucks and pedestrians have to follow the basic safety rules and laws when crossing streets and including stopping at red lights, no reason why the same can’t be applied and taught for safety and proper behavior and rules for grade crossings and crossing train tracks
Joseph C. Markfelder
You’re right It’s impossible to get rid of all level crossings or even most of them.
The Burlington is at grade with very few bridges all through the heavily settled, bigly urbanized western suburbs of Chicago. Lots of trains and lots of cars. Building overpasses wouldn’t be that simple and would degrade the suburbs.
Increase fines for all grade crossing violations. All that money goes into the fund as extra amounts.