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Residents question safety
Something needs to be done immediately to make the intersection at Fifth and Front streets more safe, Castle Rock residents said Monday at the town council's special meeting.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Something needs to be done immediately to make the intersection at Fifth and Front streets more safe, Castle Rock residents said Monday at the town council's special meeting.
"We've all known that crossing is extremely dangerous," said Steve Marin. "It concerns me that some have said that crossing is not statistically dangerous. Cars stop on those tracks dozens of times a day."
Residents were given an opportunity to express their concerns after 16-year-old Maureen Martin was critically injured in a car versus train accident at the crossing Nov. 12.
The accident occurred when Martin, who was on her way to school, stopped with the front end of her car on the tracks.
When the crossing arms came down, signaling an oncoming train, Martin's car stalled. Her boyfriend, who was in the vehicle behind her, rammed her car to push it off the tracks. The attempt failed, and Martin's car was struck by the train and pushed into a concrete barrier.
Martin was airlifted to Swedish Medical Center where she remains in a coma. Her condition has been upgraded to serious.
Friends and fellow Douglas County High School students expressed concerns about the safety of the intersection.
"Maureen is my best friend," Sylvia Osthoff said. "I implore you to make a change. Each day, several hundred students cross that track. I urge to the council to get a first-hand look at the shear gridlock at that intersection. Don't let this happen to another individual."
Residents provided suggestions that included requests for the town to revisit the possibility of relocating the railroad.
The town looked into the feasibility of moving the Union Pacific railroad tracks that run through downtown Castle Rock to run parallel with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks on the west side of town.
A study found that moving the tracks would be feasible for about $63 million. Further study was tabled when a survey showed residents were split in support of the project.
"The bulk of the tracks that would be moved were not in Castle Rock," said Herb Teets, councilman. "Douglas County didn't pony up any money to help pay for the project. The railroad offered very little and it would have been left to the town to move ahead when the bulk of the tracks aren't in town."
Moving the railroad tracks would be a major financial decision, said Mark Stevens, Castle Rock town manager.
Castle Rock's transportation master plan will be completed in about a month, Stevens said.
"The transportation master plan will list alternatives for that intersection," Stevens said.
Among the alternatives is the Perry Street flyover. The flyover was part of the design plans for the Front Street improvements, but was put on hold last year by the council until other alternatives could be studied as part of the transportation master plan.
"I had a master plan, too," said Larry Martin, Maureen Martin's uncle. "My master plan was to see Missy grow up. When is enough enough? Are we going to save money at the risk of our children?"
Any solution to the intersection at Front and Fifth streets will take some time, said Bob Watts, director of transportation for the town.
"The best we can do about the situation right now is to ask the public for help," said Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane. "Find an alternate route to relieve some of the pressure from that crossing."
The railroad is willing to work with the town to make the crossing safer, said Dick Hartman, special representative to the president of the Union Pacific Railroad.
"We have set a goal to reach a solution," Hartman said. "The incident is still under investigation but it appears the operations of the trains were within the rules."
Although the public suggested the train slow down while passing through town and not run through town during peak traffic hours, Hartman said the trains are under federal regulation and to do either of those things would create problems throughout the Front Range.
"UP is anxious to work with the community to identify solutions," Hartman said. "But what may seem an easy solution often creates greater problems. We are regulated by the federal government and speed, noise and crossings are strictly enforced."
Newly elected Colorado House of Representatives Tom Wiens told members of the council and public he wanted to work with the town and railroad to find a solution.
"Over the last several days we've seen the best Castle Rock has to offer," Wiens said. "This is a complex problem and I'm amazed at the amount of federal involvement in the railroad."
The immediate solution will be repainting the road markings at the intersection and installing larger signs at the crossing, Watts said.
After the town presents its transportation master plan, other alternatives, including the possibility of completing the Front Street flyover, will be discussed, Stevens said.
"We've all known that crossing is extremely dangerous," said Steve Marin. "It concerns me that some have said that crossing is not statistically dangerous. Cars stop on those tracks dozens of times a day."
Residents were given an opportunity to express their concerns after 16-year-old Maureen Martin was critically injured in a car versus train accident at the crossing Nov. 12.
The accident occurred when Martin, who was on her way to school, stopped with the front end of her car on the tracks.
When the crossing arms came down, signaling an oncoming train, Martin's car stalled. Her boyfriend, who was in the vehicle behind her, rammed her car to push it off the tracks. The attempt failed, and Martin's car was struck by the train and pushed into a concrete barrier.
Martin was airlifted to Swedish Medical Center where she remains in a coma. Her condition has been upgraded to serious.
Friends and fellow Douglas County High School students expressed concerns about the safety of the intersection.
"Maureen is my best friend," Sylvia Osthoff said. "I implore you to make a change. Each day, several hundred students cross that track. I urge to the council to get a first-hand look at the shear gridlock at that intersection. Don't let this happen to another individual."
Residents provided suggestions that included requests for the town to revisit the possibility of relocating the railroad.
The town looked into the feasibility of moving the Union Pacific railroad tracks that run through downtown Castle Rock to run parallel with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks on the west side of town.
A study found that moving the tracks would be feasible for about $63 million. Further study was tabled when a survey showed residents were split in support of the project.
"The bulk of the tracks that would be moved were not in Castle Rock," said Herb Teets, councilman. "Douglas County didn't pony up any money to help pay for the project. The railroad offered very little and it would have been left to the town to move ahead when the bulk of the tracks aren't in town."
Moving the railroad tracks would be a major financial decision, said Mark Stevens, Castle Rock town manager.
Castle Rock's transportation master plan will be completed in about a month, Stevens said.
"The transportation master plan will list alternatives for that intersection," Stevens said.
Among the alternatives is the Perry Street flyover. The flyover was part of the design plans for the Front Street improvements, but was put on hold last year by the council until other alternatives could be studied as part of the transportation master plan.
"I had a master plan, too," said Larry Martin, Maureen Martin's uncle. "My master plan was to see Missy grow up. When is enough enough? Are we going to save money at the risk of our children?"
Any solution to the intersection at Front and Fifth streets will take some time, said Bob Watts, director of transportation for the town.
"The best we can do about the situation right now is to ask the public for help," said Castle Rock Police Chief Tony Lane. "Find an alternate route to relieve some of the pressure from that crossing."
The railroad is willing to work with the town to make the crossing safer, said Dick Hartman, special representative to the president of the Union Pacific Railroad.
"We have set a goal to reach a solution," Hartman said. "The incident is still under investigation but it appears the operations of the trains were within the rules."
Although the public suggested the train slow down while passing through town and not run through town during peak traffic hours, Hartman said the trains are under federal regulation and to do either of those things would create problems throughout the Front Range.
"UP is anxious to work with the community to identify solutions," Hartman said. "But what may seem an easy solution often creates greater problems. We are regulated by the federal government and speed, noise and crossings are strictly enforced."
Newly elected Colorado House of Representatives Tom Wiens told members of the council and public he wanted to work with the town and railroad to find a solution.
"Over the last several days we've seen the best Castle Rock has to offer," Wiens said. "This is a complex problem and I'm amazed at the amount of federal involvement in the railroad."
The immediate solution will be repainting the road markings at the intersection and installing larger signs at the crossing, Watts said.
After the town presents its transportation master plan, other alternatives, including the possibility of completing the Front Street flyover, will be discussed, Stevens said.
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