Every time we learn about people dying from accidents at railroad crossings involving trains hitting cars it’s sad news.
Unfortunately, those types of fatal accidents have occurred too often in the Bartholomew County area in the last couple years.
There was one in November 2017 on East Main Cross Street in Edinburgh. Another occurred in October 2018 on County Road 900N, west of U.S. 31. In November 2018, two Columbus teenagers died when a train hit their car at the railroad crossing at U.S. 31 and West County Road 550N.
Several other non-fatal train-car accidents have occurred at railroad crossings, too.
So, the fact that safety improvements are planned at five rail crossings in Bartholomew County this year is good news.
Recently, and thankfully, the Bartholomew County Commissioners approved $1.2 million for upgrades at three locations:
- County Road 800N, just east of U.S. 31
- County Road 650N in Taylorsville
- County Road 950S in Jonesville
Also, two projects won’t require matching funds because they’ve already been approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation:
- At Speer Street, near the county fairgrounds
- County Road 550N, north of U.S. 31
Concern for safety at railroad crossings only grows with more and faster rail traffic coming through Bartholomew County and neighboring communities. Louisville & Indiana Railroad and CSX trains received federal approval from the Surface Transportation Board in April 2015 for CSX trains to use L&I’s rail line between Indianapolis and Louisville.
The improvements to the five railroad crossings are likely to include train-activated warning bells, flashing lights, overhead cantilevers, gates and constant warning circuitry.
The work is planned for sometime after July 1. It can’t happen soon enough.
One more life lost at railroad crossings to accidents involving trains and cars is too many.
