CIRCLEVILLE – Four Railroad closures were discussed during a public meeting of City Council on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. These closures are part of a federal mandate to close 25% of redundant or unused railroad crossings for safety.
The Ohio Rail Development and Norfolk Rail Southern Railway Company have partnered a study of railway grade crossing safety in the City of Circleville. The study found four crossings could be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, improving overall safety. In return for closing the four crossings, Circleville would recieve $203,000 for any purpose, plus $40,000 for barricades ($10,000 per crossing) and pre-approved highway safety projects. Ohio Rail will also give up to $900,000 dollars to upgrade other crossings in the area.
Full report here: Norfolk Southern Rail Crossing Study – Jan 15
“That’s better signals, better crossings. We might be able to get some nice concrete crossings or rubber crossings that are a better ride on cars and we won’t have to come back and pave over and over costing tax monies,” said Don Sherman Public Service Director.
Representatives of Norfolk Southern, as well as Ohio Rail Development were at the meeting last night to answer questions on the closures. One crossing, in particular, had quite a bit of discussion last night in the East Corwin crossing.
Beverly Martin of Circleville owns property on East Corwin and came to the meeting last night to address her opposition to the closing on East Corwin street. “The closing of this crossing serves no practical purpose to city or owners of the properties in that location.
The railroad seems to be the only one who would benefit from this closing. We are concerned what this closing would do to the value of our home on Corwin,and our access to that property. We don’t want some big cement barrier with caution reflector tape sitting in front of our property with a big sign that says ROAD CLOSED on it. We are also concerned that the area would become another dump ground for Norfolk Southern, as we see around town. We have quit calling the city on the conditions of these crossings and extras ties that have been dumped and never taken care of and become a eye sore. None of our crossings should be in the condition they are in today.”
Don Lamb of Circleville AG products stated “I want to state our opposition on the closing of East Corwin Street also, we own the buisness located at 347 East Corwin Street. This closing would affect our business, our greatest and safest access is Corwin Street for the products we are moving in and out of our facility. We also have issues with Northfolk maintaining property sitting adjacent to our facility, that area has become a dumping ground for extra ties and equipment.”
Council also added some local complaints against Norfolk Rail’s upkeep to their properties and crossings in Circleville, “We have some of the worst grade crossings in Ohio, drivers have to swerve and almost go left of center to avoid holes in the road at some of these crossings”, added Council President David Crawford.
“Four people complained to me today about the grade crossing at Pickaway and Ohio and how bad they are”, said Katie Logan-Hedges – Councilperson 3rd Ward, “We would know what the process is to have those crossings addressed specifically beyond these proposed closings.”
Casey Tolbert Norfolk Southern Rail Representative said: “They want to work with Circleville to close several crossings, instead of going to the state to force Circleville to close crossings.” He also said he would take the complaints back to Norfolk Southern and report them. After hearing the complaints from the individuals on Corwin Street he said they would go back and make a offer on the closing of the other three crossings since there was not much opposition on them and see what they can do about the possible Corwin closure to ease concerns. He continued, “Closure of only three crossings will impact the incentive package that has been offered for the four closures, if Circleville could find a fourth closure to replace Corwin that is a possibility also, you are the folks that know your community and your crossings.”
According to the Ohio Rail and Norfolk Report, only one train a day at 10 mph crosses the Corwin Train Crossing per day. Council alluded to the possibility that it may be even less traffic than that.
According to Don Sherman, no real alternative closures are viable options.
Mayor Don Mcllroy gave a suggestion to the situation, “Before Council votes on these closures that they should add a caveat in the proposal on how they will clean up these properties and maintain these crossings.”
Council voted to table the ordinance until they see the proposal from Norfolk Southern, that was voted on unanimously.
Other crossing closures did not receive any opposition during the meeting last night they are the following:
West Mill Street Closing, that line used to be part of Container Corporation and most is already gone according to Sherman.
West Ohio Street Closing – Scioto street is available for use that runs perpendicular, and Maplewood north of Huston Street would end up being a dead end cul-de-sac at the closing.
Huston Street Crossing “this is a bad crossing, an unsafe crossing in my opinion,” said Sherman. This is a road that hasn’t had a lot of maintenance, and being that close to trains in my opinion isn’t safe anyways.”
