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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina Search past issues | CLASSIFIEDS | REAL ESTATE | HELP WANTED |
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ObituariesHeadlines Deputy superintendent's community ties go deep Princeton Baptists plan mission works Another accident right before prom Hearing on Princeton crossing closing Baseball: Rosewood breaks out bats in two wins • Dawgs downed by Fike Track: Lady Eagles post win Photos Movies Shutter
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Public hearing on crossing closings26 March 2008 — The Princeton Town Board is considering closing the Barden Street railroad crossing, and will hear public comment on the proposal at their meeting on April 7. The previous debate over possible crossing closings last year became emotional as some said the town should stand up to the railroad. Others suggested people would die and homes would burn over longer response times for emergency services. There was opposition to closing either intersection. Mayor Don Rains is hoping people will give fair consideration to the benefits to the town of closing the Barden Street crossing. Officially the hearing will discuss closing Barden St. or Center St. or both, but no one on the town board is pushing anything on Center St. other than signalizing or possibly doing nothing at the intersection. If the town authorizes putting up crossing arms at the Center St. crossing, the Department of Transportation will pay 90% of the costs for the equipment and installation under a federal program, probably a total cost of around $200,000. The town’s share would be $20,000. In addition the town would agree half of the maintenance cost of maintaining the crossing, which is estimated at $1290 per year. If Princeton would agree to close the Barden St. intersection, DOT would reimburse the town the $20,000 they spend on the crossing signals on Center St. They are also offering $200,000-300,000 to be spent on improving the intersection at Barden and Railroad streets, and to improve downtown drainage along the railroad tracks between Barden St. and Pearl St. If the town does not close the Barden St. intersection, the federal funds for improvements and to reimburse the town would not be available, as they are an incentive for towns to close railroad crossings. DOT has also notified the town that the funding for signalizing Center St. will not be available if the town does not approve the improvement by May 9. Princeton is the only town in Johnston County that does not have gates on every intersection. Railroad officials can run trains at higher speeds through the town. Some are concerned about safety after a train-car wreck last year on Barden St. that knocked the car in a ditch but miraculously did not seriously injure the mother or children in the car.
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Wayne Wilson News Leader
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