@RSJB18 posted:I'm with you John. The RR's can't just say "we're doing all we can".
Many years ago (1982), here on Long Island, there was a horrific accident at a grade crossing in central Nassau County between a LIRR commuter train and a van carrying 10, yes 10, teenagers. Nine of them perished when the driver went around the lowered gates.
Following the crash, the MTA and LIRR moved to eliminate the grade crossing. It's now an underpass. The LIRR is also just eliminated 7 other grade crossings through Nassau County for safety reasons as well.
Now I know the RR's can't eliminate every grade crossing in the country but a better level of protection must be implemented. Make them all double gates that block both traffic lanes. No more zig-zagging around the lowered gates.
Bob
An interesting point, this is where it gets interesting/weird. The LIRR is run by MTA, which is a state agency, so the roads and the railroad are both public, so you would figure they would have acted before since clearly there is responsibility there. It is always different in the private sector, I didn't realize that with grade crossings and the like that is the responsibility basically of the 'property owner' (ie if it is crossing a public road, the local/state government), if private between railroad and owner of the property. Raises questions, like could the car in question be using a private road when they should have been?
