Public safety could be at risk if a small Warren County street is split, authorities say.
A plan to close a railroad crossing on a half-mile road in Warren County is on the wrong track, say local leaders concerned about public safety.
To stop through-traffic on Railroad Avenue in Washington -- as proposed by Norfolk Southern Corp. -- would hinder emergency responders and reroute school buses, according to police, fire and school officials in the borough and surrounding township.
The company, however, says its goal is to improve safety.
Railroad Avenue runs between Route 57 and Washburn Avenue, crossed by tracks running to and from a nearby rail yard. Less than 500 vehicles used the crossing in each of three 12-hour periods studied in May, according to a letter to residents from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Norfolk Southern has asked that the state close the crossing, effectively making the road a dead end to vehicular traffic. The request is still under DOT review.
The DOT in August sent surveys to some residents regarding the potential road closure. In its letter, the department notes that the road's closure means train horns would no longer sound there, and that routes around the closed crossing would not increase by more than a half mile.
Norfolk Southern spokesman Dave Pidgeon said railroads are under pressure from regulators to close crossings where possible to reduce the risk of accidents. Though he could not immediately speak to the specifics of the Railroad Avenue proposal, Pidgeon said similar plans are in motion elsewhere.
"Safety is our top concern," he said, later adding: "The safest crossing is a closed crossing."
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However, police and fire officials say the road provides a critical connection during emergencies.
In correspondence with the borough's acting manager, both Washington Township police Chief Thomas Cicerelle and fire Chief Joe Fox said they oppose closing Railroad Avenue's crossing. Manager Jasmine Lim included the opinions in the agenda for Borough Council's meeting Tuesday.
"This road is our shortest and fastest emergency route to the southeastern section of Washington Township and the village of Changewater," Cicerelle said in a letter to Lim. "The proposed detours would delay our response as well as force emergency response vehicles to drive through more populated residential areas."
The fire chief said that any emergency at the rail yard would require the use of all hydrants in the area -- one of which is south of the crossing -- to keep material stored at the yard cool. Closing the crossing would cut off access, he said.
"This closing would also hinder the evacuation of residents in the area in the event of an emergency in the rail yard or at the BASF facility," Fox said.
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Warren Hills School District Transportation Coordinator Peggy Edmiston, in an email to the borough manager, said two bus stops would be affected by the Railroad Avenue closure and would lengthen some bus routes. To adjust, one bus would have to arrive at school before 7 a.m., meaning students may be unattended until staff arrives, she wrote.
According to the agenda, council was to discuss the road closing at Tuesday's meeting. Lim, the acting manager, in a letter to council dated Oct. 11 said they have two options: conduct an independent survey of residents, or take a stand.
"I recommend that the borough strongly oppose the proposed closing of the railroad (crossing) on Railroad Avenue," she wrote, "on the basis of public safety and inconvenience to the borough residents and other travelers."
Pidgeon, with Norfolk Southern, said the company wants to hear about the concerns from public safety leaders and residents. Anyone with questions about the proposal can contact him at 717-541-2247 or david.pidgeon@nscorp.com.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.