Safer crossing isn’t simple

NORTH CANAAN — Four local railroad grade crossings are under scrutiny by the Department of Transportation Department of Rail (DOTRail). Two are slated for gates and lights, while another two could close. DOTRail representatives are expected to hold at least one public hearing here in the fall.

The main rail line in the center of town and a spur crossing a short distance to the east have been scheduled for more than two decades now to get an upgrade to a controlled crossing. 

Drainage was the issue, but that appears to be resolved, according to Stephen Curley, senior transportation engineer for DOTRail. Storm water that currently collects at that low spot will be drained into the Blackberry River watershed. 

Two years ago, $2.2 million in federal funding was approved. The cost will certainly be higher now, Curley said. 

The delay has been mostly about moving a siding switch from adjacent to the sidewalk to a more workable spot. 

“There were a lot of issues with that,” Curley said. “Housatonic Railroad will do all the work and has been working on a very specialized design that needs to function in a very difficult spot.”

Yet to be determined in the design phase is how to address handicapped accessibility and safety barriers for sidewalks at each crossing.

The proposal for the safety upgrade was rejected at least twice prior to all that by residents at public hearings. Local sentiment was heeded because the rail line was essentially dormant at the time. Now, Housatonic Railroad Co. runs a growing freight business. Moving the train, and using the switch to move cars on and off sidings to the immediate north, mean sending a worker out into the road to stop traffic at the busy intersection. Gates and lights would make the operation safer and faster. They would be synced with the traffic signals, which were upgraded years ago in anticipation, and done in conjunction with the town’s streetscape project.

Housatonic Railroad requested DOTRail (which leases the line to the company) consider closing the crossings on Orchard Street and Barracks Road. Representatives from both, as well as the town’s Board of Selectmen, met recently on site at the crossings.

The dual-track Orchard Street crossing is simply a difficult situation in that there is barely a car length between the crossing and the Route 7 intersection. A sign instructs drivers coming off Orchard Street to stop at a stop sign prior to the crossing, then to proceed over the tracks and onto Route 7 without stopping. But it is difficult to see from the stop sign if Route 7 traffic is clear. The procedure is counter intuitive and drivers can often be seen doing the opposite.

Closing it may not be a great inconvenience to drivers and residents in that neighborhood, where there are many alternative routes.

That is not the case on Barracks Road, where the crossing leads to a private road and is the only access for a handful of homes there, except for one property, which has a driveway from West Main Street.

Curley said the issue for the railroad is mostly about large trucks and equipment using the crossing onto the dirt section of road that closely parallels the tracks. 

“There is concern about large vehicles being driven over the crossing that can barely make the turn and could damage or get stuck on the tracks,” Curley said.

The investigation there is in the preliminary stages.

DOTRail is required by state statute to investigate any concerns about crossings. They will look into things like sight lines, including where parked rail cars could block drivers’ views; utility impacts; the proximity of other crossings; quality of life issues for residents; and, above all, safety.

“This is all information we would bring to an informational meeting for residents,” Curley said. “This is not a contentious process. It is ultimately about safety, but we would be looking for a consensus from everyone involved on how we should proceed.”