VALHALLA – To mark the fifth anniversary of the deadly Metro-North passenger train crash at the Commerce Street crossing in Valhalla, State Senator David Carlucci (D, Nanuet) and Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti (D, Tarrytown) stood at the rail crossing to demand answers from the State Department of Transportation.
The lawmakers said there has been no communication from the state agency on a rail grade crossing study and that was required under the law by April 1, 2017.
Carlucci said without an at-grade crossing upgrade “bureaucrats” are putting the public in peril. “This will make commuting safer, not only for people that ride the rails, driver, and pedestrians. We can’t wait. Every minute that is waited; every day that is waited, New Yorkers are put at risk,” he said.
Abinanti said one year after the Valhalla crash, the state passed a law requiring a study of all grade crossings that was to be completed three years ago. He noted three weeks ago there was another rail accident in Sloatsburg, but there have been no changes.
The study was prompted by the deadliest Metro-North accident in history on February 3, 2015. Alan Brody’s wife, Ellen, was killed when her vehicle got stuck on the tracks. She died along with five passengers on the train. Fifteen others were injured.
Brody, who was also at the Sunday event, said cities and towns should be allowed to make their own changes. “At the end of the day, the MTA and NYSDOT are not concerned about our safety, but we are,” he said.
