Lowey Back at the Grade Crossing at Roaring Brook Road Today

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey brought Federal Railroad Administration’s Acting Administrator, Sarah Feinberg, to the Metro-North crossing at Roaring Brook Road in Chappaqua today to talk about the danger posed by grade crossings.

The FRA is the federal agency charged with enabling safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people on our nation’s railways, and is working on a multi-faceted campaign to promote grade crossing safety, including efforts with law enforcement agencies.

Since the Harlem Line tragedy in February, Lowey has called for immediate action to improve rail grade crossing safety for residents, businesses, and communities in the Lower Hudson Valley.

New Castle officials have called on state or federal officials to build a bridge specifically at Roaring Brook Road.

“I’m pleased FRA Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg is here to see firsthand how dangerous these crossings are,” said Lowey in a prepared statement. “With more than 250,000 public and private grade crossings around the country, we must tackle this important safety challenge with a multi-faceted approach. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will be fighting to protect and increase funding for rail crossing safety initiatives.”

Lowey visited the crossing March 2 with Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Westchester County Board of Legislators Chair Mike Kaplowitz and local officials for a press conference about safety improvements.

RELATED:

• Officials Call for Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements
• UPDATE: Saw Mill Parkway Roaring Brook Exit Reopened
• Feds Call on Local Cops to Police Railroad Grade Crossings
• New Castle Asks for Overpass at Roaring Brook Grade Crossing

This scheduled visit was fortuitous, because yesterday there was a minor incident at the crossing.

On March 30 Roaring Brook Road was closed for a while just east of the Saw Mill River Parkway after a white van exited the parkway and was in the crossing as the barrier came down. The van accelerated through it and kept on going, officials said.

The MTA repaired the barricade and is conducting an investigation.

“We need a bridge!” said New Castle Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein in an email.

“There are more than 250,000 highway-rail grade crossings across the United States. Safety is a serious issue at everyone one of them. Just yesterday there was an incident here at the crossing in Chappaqua. It is a reminder that we must remain vigilant. Highway grade crossing incidents are a leading cause of rail-related deaths and injuries,” said Feinberg. “After calling for their help, local law enforcement agencies have beefed up their presence at crossings and are rigorously enforcing traffic laws. We are grateful for their response. We are doing and will continue to do everything we possibly can to keep drivers, pedestrians, and train crews and passengers safe at grade crossings.”

Joining Lowey and Feinberg today were President of the Metro-North Railroad Joseph Giulietti, Chief Safety Office of Metro-North Railroad Anne Kirsch, Metro Transit Authority (MTA) Chief of Police Michael Coan, State DOT Planning and Program Manager Tom Weiner, Westchester Board of Legislators Chair Mike Kaplowitz, New Castle Police Chief Charles Ferry, Town of New Castle Comptroller Robert Deary, New Castle Department of Public Works Deputy Commissioner Gerry Moerschell, Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi, and Mount Pleasant Police Chief Paul Oliva.

PHOTO courtesy Rep. Nita Lowey’s Office