New Castle Asks for Overpass at Roaring Brook Grade Crossing

New Castle town officials reacting to the deaths of six people—three with local ties—in last week’s Metro North collision have sent letters to federal lawmakers requesting the federal government immediately construct a railway and parkway overpass on Roaring Brook Road where it intersects the Harlem Line and the Saw Mill River Parkway.

“Every day, members of our community leave their homes to embark on what should always be a safe commute to work along with an uneventful return home,” officials said on a New Castle Town webpage dedicated to the new campaign. “Our Town commits to all of those who live and work here that it will never stop working to protect and preserve their safety.”

Joseph Nadol, 42, and Robert Dirks, 36, were on the express commuter train scheduled to stop first at Chappaqua. Ellen Brody, 49, was the driver of the SUV on the tracks.

The railroad grade crossing below the old Readers Digest building is less than half a mile from Horace Greeley High School and several yards from the traffic light at the parkway, a busy commuter link between New York City and northern Westchester County.

Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein said the benefit of such a bridge to the safety of the public - travelling by car or train – is clear.

You can read the full letter here.

He asks anyone who supports the idea to send an email or write a letter to The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand, The Honorable Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Nita M. Lowey and provides contact information on the webpage.

HARLEM LINE TRAGEDY:

• Harlem Line Tragedy: The Front Car Filled with Smoke
• Political Leaders Say Harlem Line Crash Was Preventable
• Harlem Line Tragedy: Safety Systems at Crossing Were Working, Investigators Say
• Phone, E-Mail, Twitter: NTSB, Metro-North Reach Out
• Ossining Resident Joseph Nadol Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Deadly Train Crash Puts the Spotlight on Metro-North’s Recent Safety Record -- Again
• Harlem Line Tragedy: Engineer Credited With Saving Lives
• Chappaqua Resident Robert Dirks Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Bedford Hills Resident Walter Liedtke Among Victims in Metro North Tragedy
• Edgemont Resident Ellen Brody Among Victims in Metro North Tragedy
• Danbury Resident Aditya Tomar Among Victims in Metro-North Tragedy
• Bedford Resident Eric Vandercar Among Victims
• Metro-North Harlem Line Tragedy: Timeline; Feds Collecting Evidence
• What You Need to Know if You Take Metro-North
• On Twitter: News and Reaction to the Harlem Line Tragedy
• Tough Weather Conditions for Train Accident Investigation

PHOTO: Flags at New Castle Town Hall are at half-staff until Feb. 13 to commemorate the victims of the deadly train crash/Town of New Castle