Brody, left, with Carlucci, center and Albinati
VALHALLA – The Department of Transportation is over a year late in releasing a state mandated study into the safety of New York’s railway crossings, according to Assemblyman Tom Abinanti.
“Despite a law that requires a DOT study of railroad crossings
and lots of pressure on Metro-North neither has done anything to make
rail crossings any safer,” said the Albinati while at the Commerce
Street at-grade train crossing in Valhalla. That was the site of
a February 2015 collision between a Metro-North commuter train and an
SUV in which six people were killed and 15 others injured.
But, MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said the MTA “has acted to improve
railroad crossing safety on manyh fronts since the incident at Valhalla.”
He said they have added tubular delineators and improved pavement markings
at many crossings and continue safety assessments at crossings in the
region. “Metro-North has initiated a permanent public education outreach
campaign for children and adults,” he said. “The MTA Police
have stepped up enforcement at crossings.”
The DOT is now in violation of a law that was written in response that that tragedy, according to Abinanti and Senator David Carlucci, both of whom drafted the legislation, which became law more than two years ago.
According to that measure, the DOT was supposed to conduct a comprehensive review and submit a report on the safety of the state’s railroad crossings. Their findings were supposed to be sent to both the governor and the state legislature on April 1, 2017. To date the DOT has not submitted a report.
DOT officials had previously stated that they were waiting for the National Traffic Safety Board to release a report before submitting their own findings; however, they have failed to produce a survey even after the NTSB announced its findings. The DOT has also failed to comment on safety reports written by local authorities.
“Shame on the state Department of Transportation for dragging their feet on the rail crossing study” Carlucci said. “Lives continue to be lost because of the dangers at some of these rail road crossings.”
The senator’s outrage is especially pertinent considering New York’s rising rates of railroad crossing accidents. According to the senator’s office, New York State is experiencing an increasing number railroad accidents at a time when such incidents are declining nationwide.
Alan Brody, the husband of Ellen Brody who died in the 2015 collision, challenged the private sector to succeed where the DOT has not. “I can’t write legislation but I’ll write a check for the highway engineer who presents the best analysis and proposal for improving railroad crossings,” said Brody.
Both legislators and Brody implored everyone present to pressure the DOT into complying with the law and release an assessment of New York’s rail crossings.
