Three Years! Nothing Changed!

VALHALLA- "Despite a new law that requires a Department of Transportation (DOT) study of railroad crossings and lots of pressure on Metro North, neither has done anything to make rail crossings safer," said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) as he stood at the site of a fatal rail-car accident three years ago on February 3, 2015.

Two years ago, the Governor signed Abinanti’s bill requiring the DOT to conduct a comprehensive review of all 5,300 railroad crossings throughout New York. As a requirement of the law, the DOT was to submit a report to the Governor and the legislature on or before April 1, 2017, including accessibility of federal funds for improvement projects and viability of implementing changes to increase safety. To date, the DOT has not submitted their report.

According to a report by News 12, officials have said the distance between the track and the gate at the Commerce Street railroad crossing makes it one of the most dangerous in the State. “We’ve got an obligation to protect innocent people and we’ve got to do everything possible to avoid these accidents,” said Abinanti.

The Assemblyman is calling on the DOT to complete the study pursuant to the law passed two years ago.

Watch the News 12 report here.