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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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HeadlinesThis week's Pigskin Pickin' results Cathy Best is Wayne County's top teacher Six-year-old led off school grounds Princeton Board debates railroad crossing closings, federal funds Benefit of nature's roden killers Princeton's Veterans Day celebration planned Football: PHS tackles Mattamuskeet for homecoming Football: RHS falls to Jones Sr. Golf: Lady Bulldogs top NJ Volleyball: PHS tops Rosewood at home; L. Bulldogs take two wins Volleyball: RHS takes first conference win Photos Obituaries Movies The Kingdom Local Showtimes
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Federal funds or convenience for PrincetonBy Barry Merrill 3 October 2007 — A two hour public hearing Monday night where many rose to say they were opposed to closing any railroad crossings in Princeton left the town board scratching their heads when it came to how they would pay for what citizens wanted. The hearing was part of the regular town board meeting for October. “If you’re talking about spending $75,000-80,000 over the next five years, and you figure $5,000 is one cent on the tax rate, I’m not sure how I can vote next year to pay for (part of) that in next year’s budget,” Commissioner Walter Martin said. Mayor Don Rains then added that the money spent on crossing signals and arms has done nothing to improve drainage in downtown. Under current federal incentive programs, monies are available to pay 90% of the costs of putting signals and crossing arms at many crossings and half the annual maintainance costs. Currently the Center St. crossing qualifies for that, and NC DOT engineer Jahmal Pullen who was at the meeting said with the recent accident at the Barden St. crossing he expects that crossing will be added to that list next year. DOT in conjunction with the federal incentive program can also use the federal monies for projects in towns. If the Barden St. crossing is closed, DOT has said they would use federal money to change the intersection and improve drainage in the area. Engineer James Kessler of HNTB of Raleigh, also at the board meeting, said if both Barden and Center St. crossings were closed, ditching could be improved in the Center St. area, and the pipe providing drainage of downtown underneath the railroad tracks could be taken deeper and perhaps resized. That federal money for improvements in Princeton could reach $500,000. Princeton Police Chief Eddie Lewis weighed in, suggesting the town could save the costs of signalizing the intersection by putting up stop signs. Commissioner David Starling asked if the town could look at other options other than fully signalize crossings and putting up arms. Danny Gilbert of Rail Safety Consultants of Roanoke, Va., who was also at the meeting, suggested that would not absolve the town of possible liabilities after an accident. Mr. Gilbert, in opening remarks, emphasized that the recent train-car accident at the Barden St. crossing would have resulted in fatalities if the car had been hit a second sooner. Commissioner Eddie Haddock, who is also captain of the town’s rescue squad, answered that with the steepness of the grade at the intersection, vehicles have to go slower and are more prone to look both ways. In his 30 years service on the Rescue Squad, he didn’t remember another accident at that intersection. He also questioned the value of the improvements that DOT was offering. He cited state responsibility for some of the areas they were offering to improve, but Mr. Pullen in agreeing that the state was responsible, cited a lack of state funding immediately available, and that it may be ten years or more before the state could address some of the issues. “This federal money is available right now.” Cliff Holt of Holt’s Hardware presented a petition with 441 signatures against closing the Center Street crossing. The petition agreed with the need to improve safety at the intersection and the need to put up signals and arms at the intersection. Mr. Martin said and Carlyle Woodard of Woodard Pharmacy confirmed that many of the signatures were from people who lived outside Princeton and didn’t want to be inconvenienced. Mr. Martin said they were not the ones who would have to pay the costs. Fire Chief Ken Starling spoke in opposition to closing either crossing, saying that closing the Barden Street crossing he estimated would add two minutes to his department’s response time to certain areas of town and their service area. He emphasized that not only would it delay them getting out, but also volunteers from that area who were trying to drive into the emergency services to respond. He said his department was unanimously opposed to closing the crossings, and that regardless of incentives offered, it would be very short sighted to accept the money. He asked how much lives that would be lost due to a longer response time were worth. Brandon Holland, who is a candidate for the board and a fire department member, said he opposed the closings. He cited an Oklahoma State University that suggests fire damage doubles every 30 seconds. He also said the closing would hurt downtown businesses. Former mayor and town board member George Carlisle, owner of the Piggly Wiggly and a number of downtown properties, said the engineers and consultants were representing the railroad, but the town board was elected to represent the people of Princeton. He pointed out the board found the money to build a new town hall. He suggested they could find the money for the crossings improvements. One of the safety concerns that came up repeatedly was the fact that trains now go 20 MPH through Princeton, but they can and will be expected to increase to 40 MPH. Some also pointed out that even with arms down, people sometimes drive around the arms. Mr. Martin raised the possibility of putting in another crossing for emergency vehicles in the area near the side rail west of the Barden St. crossing. He said there could be a gate to eliminate general public access to the crossing, but that could be opened with a code or a key by emergency personnel. Mr. Gilbert said that it would be unlikely the railroads would agree to a new crossing. Their policy has been to require three present crossings to be closed before allowing a new one. With negotiations with Norfolk Southern and N.C. Railroad required, he doubted an agreement could be reached with all parties, even for such a limited crossing. The steepness of the Barden St. crossing will likely increase in coming years when the rails are maintained, as replacing ties underneath the rails tend to raise the tracks a few inches. Mr. Martin questioned the economic impact to the downtown businesses of closing Center St., but asked for a “finding of fact” on the possible costs to the merchants and the costs of the various options. Mayor Rains closed the hearing asking that DOT offer some projected costs of the various options and said the board would consider the questions again next month.
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