CSX to push back speed limit increase

Thursday, August 13, 2009

GREENCASTLE -- CSX Railroad officials confirmed Wednesday an agreement to push back the speed limit increase in the city to as late as Oct. 1.

At a public meeting Tuesday evening, city officials expressed concern over taking proper safety precautions for the increase in speed limit from 10 to 25 mph.

Ken Gilsdorf, with CSX Community Affairs and Safety, told the Banner Graphic the company has no problem with delaying the speed increase.

"We got together last night and we talked with John Kass from Buzzi and he said that he had no difficulties with us if we decided to forgo it for a little while until the city had their two meetings and could get the stop signs installed," said Gilsdorf.

City Councilors and Mayor Sue Murray were unhappy with Tuesday's news that the increase could take effect in as soon as two weeks. City officials would like to have time to put stop signs up at the crossings that do not have signals. However, the city council will need to meet twice to get such an ordinance passed.

"We had no difficulties with that," said Gilsdorf. "We've been working on this for over a year now, so what's another six weeks? If the town thinks it's safe to put stop signs up at the street crossings where there's no warning devices (we're fine with that.)"

At this point, the council has a special meeting set for 4 p.m. Aug. 25 to discuss the 2010 budget. They may also have a first reading on ordinances for the stop signs at these crossings.

If the first reading is passed on Aug. 25, council would be able to sign the ordinances into law at their Sept. 9 meeting.

One point also discussed at Tuesday's meeting was that, although the speed limit will increase to 25 mph, most of these trains would not be reaching that speed. Coming into town southbound toward Buzzi Unicem, the trains will already be slowing down to make the stop at the cement plant.

Northbound trains will be loaded with cement and attempting to accelerate uphill, so reaching 25 mph will be impossible in most cases.

The city will also continue to explore its options regarding how its 10 crossings will be handled with the increased speed.

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  • Lets waste more money on stop signs that nobody pays attention to. Has anyone noticed the total disregard for stop signs in this city?

    -- Posted by Blue6 on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 7:24 AM
  • I've noticed. The STOP HERE sign at 231 north and Washington St. is disregarded everyday by those who think it is ok to turn right on red. I cannot count the number of times I have had the green light to turn onto South 231-Bloomington Street- only to nearly be hit by somebody turning right on a red light or just pulling out far enough over the line to obstruct traffic.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 12:13 PM
  • People running stop signs and red lights has become a big problem nation wide. How many tickets did the Putnam Co. Sheriff's dept. issue in the last month for someone running a stop sign? Probably Zeroe.

    -- Posted by Harmony Church on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 3:48 PM
  • City Councilors and Mayor Sue Murray got their panties in a wad because csx got the speed limit increased with little or no input from them and their little feeling got hurt.

    -- Posted by A Mad Bovine on Thu, Aug 13, 2009, at 5:40 PM
  • You are correct Bondsman, there is no sign that prohibits turning on red but the sign clearly states STOP HERE ON RED..... I feel that vehicles pulling up over the white line to turn right onto Washington St create a problem for traffic coming through and well as an obstacle for people turning left southbound.No major accidents there so perhaps I could be wrong.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 5:27 PM
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