No shortage of opinions exist about what – if anything – can be
done about the railroad crossing at Fifth and Front streets. As
Maureen Martin’s accident demonstrates, the intersection is an
unforgiving one.
Although no amount of work or changes will render the
intersection harmless, things can be done to make it more forgiving
and, perhaps, reduce the number of motorists who have to cross the
tracks daily.
First, anything that can give motorists clearer direction would
help. Larger signs have been mentioned, and they would help, but
there’s something else.
The lights regulating east and westbound traffic on Fifth Street
are on the east side of the tracks. Despite the rather
inconspicuous “stop here on red” sign on the west side of the
tracks, the placement of the lights gives eastbounders the illusion
that they can cross the tracks, stop and wait safely to turn left
on Front Street.
There’s room for about two vehicles to do this on the east side
of the tracks. However, if motorist No. 3 mistakenly assumes that
the first car will be able to make the light and turn north onto
Front Street, thus freeing space, driver No. 3 might proceed onto
the tracks and be left stranded.
Yes, experienced – and we emphasize the word experienced –
drivers should know better than to make such an assumption.
However, people also should know better than to speed on icy roads,
but that doesn’t stop them from doing it.
A better solution would be to move the lights regulating
eastbound traffic to the west side of the tracks. That way, when
the light for eastbound traffic turns red, motorists know exactly
where to stop – which will be on the west side of the
tracks.
That said, the town can further make the intersection safer by
building a Front Street flyover. That would drastically reduce the
number of motorists traversing the tracks on Fifth
Street.
We believe that the town could find the space to build the
flyover without blocking Front Street access for residents between
the flyover and Fifth Street.
If the land cannot be found, then that itself might make the
case for the town to exercise its powers of condemnation to acquire
the needed land.
While the last suggestion is not made lightly, the condemnation
would be done for the health, safety and welfare of all the town’s
residents – and nonresidents – who have to cross the
tracks.
And isn’t that the idea behind the right of condemnation?