JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and transportation officials explained how a chunk of the $50M approved in the state budget will be used to improve railroad crossings in an effort to prevent tragedies like last year’s fatal Amtrak crash.
“Mendon was a wake-up call,” said Missouri Department of Transportation Director Patrick McKenna Thursday.
MoDOT says it will start by spending $18.5M to make changes at 47 public rail crossings on the state’s three passenger rail lines that do not have active lights, gates or alerts, or are referred to as passive. The improvements are part of a study released Thursday.
The safety improvements include:
- 17 closures
- 2 security gate systems
- 27 upgrades including lights and gates
- 3 status changes from public to private
- 3 passive enhancements
Gov. Mike Parson signed HB4, approving the funding earlier this year. He said the money is a “game changer for the state of Missouri.”
“For years and years, we have not been able to address the issues like we should have, and I think it is unfortunate, things happen sometimes that are tragic events that are probably a wake up call for all us, but I think now you can see we are serious about moving forward,” said Gov. Parson.
There are more than 1,4000 passive crossings in Missouri, according to MoDOT officials. The agency plans to use some of the $50M to also study and improve freight train crossings.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that poor design contributed to the derailment in Mendon.
The crossing, which is recommended for closure in the state’s study, was shuttered immediately after last year's crash.
Before the wreck, area residents had expressed concerns for nearly three years about the safety of the crossing because of the lack of visibility.
“Just setting eyes on it, you realize how dangerous it was,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at today’s press conference.
The state Transportation Department had put the $400,000 project to add lights and gates at the crossing on a priority list, but it hadn't received funding before the derailment.
State Rep. Tim Taylor, R-Mendon, thanked his local community, the state and federal officials for their support over the last year.
“A bigger tragedy would be nothing happening,” said Taylor.
He did mention that if the crossing closed, it would be a 13-mile trip for residents to get around it.
McKenna stressed the 47 crossing improvements are just recommendations for now and conversations will have to happen locally before changes are made.
NTSB Chair Homendy said the state stepped up after the Mendon crash but the responsibility is shared with others as well.
“It is not lost on me that in a matter of hours, the railroad repaired that section of track and got things moving. If you can make those improvements to get critical shipments of freight on your rail line, you can also make safety improvements in a quick amount of time,” remarked Homendy.
The state funding also allows for local road authorities to apply for $3M in funding for advance warning signs. These signs can be used replace existing warning signs with new ones that meet the latest sign standards. They can be used in conjunction with lights, gates and other alerts already in place.
Improvements and changes recommended in Tier I are for 25 passive crossings, including closures or consolidation at four in southeast Missouri's Butler County. Here are the ones in the St. Louis metro area:
- St. Louis: Dock Street - upgrade with gates and lights plus other
- St. Louis: Buchanan Street - upgrade with flashing lights
- DeSoto: Miller Street- upgrade with gates and lights
Improvements at 6 passive crossings between Kansas City and St. Louis. Here are the ones in the St. Louis metro area:
- Franklin County (Washington): St. Johns Island Road - change status from public to private
Improvements are recommended at 21 crossings, including 11 closures. Here are the one closest to Kansas City.
- Jackson County- Eaton Road crossing in Sibley- install security gates and sign improvements
