Dealing With Metro-North Grade Crossings In Mount Pleasant

VALHALLA, NY — Mount Pleasant officials have proposed closing two of the many grade crossings between Valhalla and Hawthorne, including the one where six people died in 2015. They're also recommending a pedestrian bridge across the tracks and a new access road.

The Feb. 3, 2015, accident involving an SUV at the Commerce Street crossing and a Metro-North commuter train killed five train passengers and the driver of the SUV; also 13 people were injured when, around 6:30 p.m. the packed northbound train smashed into the 2011 Mercedes Benz ML350 that had driven into its path.

The new plan is to improve the crossings at Lakeview and Steven avenues, eliminate the crossings at Cleveland and Commerce streets, and build a new Kensico Avenue access road. The new road would connect the north end of South Kensico to Legion Drive.

The purpose:

• mitigate the number of conflict points — there are five grade crossings in that one stretch along the Taconic Parkway.
• improve pedestrian safety near the tracks and the parkway
• improve vehicle movement in town
• promote economic development

The cost, $13 million, would be borne by the state.

See the town's full presentation here.

But some residents aren't convinced that it's a good idea, according to The Examiner. At a meeting Oct. 24, they argued that the horrific crash was due to driver error and that the workarounds would inconvenience local drivers.

Town Engineer David Smyth said that drivers had been observed maneuvering around the safety gates even with police nearby, The Examiner reported.

Image via google maps

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