Closure proposed for rail crossing at CR 450E, south of U.S. 30
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Nationwide, an effort is being made to consolidate railroad crossings.
Railroad crossings with low volume traffic are being closed as part of that consolidation.
Tuesday, Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson presented the county commissioners with a proposal to close the railroad crossing at CR 450E, just south of U.S. 30.
In addition, Yvonne Beyer petitioned to vacate CR 450E, from south of the railroad tracks to Wooster Road. Beyer owns the property on both sides of CR 450E south of the crossing.
Both petitions were tabled until the Jan. 30 commissioner meeting so Ladson can gather more traffic information for the commissioners. The commissioners said they want a traffic count at the crossing and along CR 450E.
Ladson said there was a fatality this year at the railroad crossing. When he asked the state about getting lights and gates at the crossing, state officials replied that crossing was not a priority. However, if the crossing at CR 450E is closed, the crossing at Van Ness Road would become a higher priority on the state's list.
Ladson said he sent letters out to emergency services and received no negative feedback. He did receive several letters in favor of the crossing being closed.
Matt Sandy, Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner, said if the railroad crossing is closed, CR 450E would have no access point, so vacating the road would be fine.
Two remonstrators didn't think closing the road and crossing would be OK, though.
Charlie Murphy said the road and crossing are used by area farmers. Many take the road to Stump's Elevator. He said he is not in favor of the crossing closing or of road vacation.
County commissioner Brad Jackson asked Ladson if there had been any traffic count on the road.
"No," said Ladson. "They can be done." Normally, he said, a traffic count is conducted for three days, but the problem they now face may be the weather.
Mike Miner, commissioners' attorney, said a traffic count in December may not be the same as one conducted in September or October when farmers are doing their harvesting.
Jackson told Ladson to do a traffic count on the road and the vacation and closing were tabled.
Three other vacations were presented to the commissioners Tuesday. Of the vacations, the commissioners:
• Approved Byron and Jane Kauffman's petition to vacate a portion of T41 Lane, south of CR 650N, in Tippecanoe Township.
• Approved Mark and Marcia Sell's petition to vacate a portion of B27 Lane. The lane is by Barbee Lake and is a stretch of unimproved road.
• Approved a request by Smith's Resort LLC, Tippecanoe Township, to withdraw their petition. Smith's Resort wanted to vacate approximately 160 feet of W14B Lane, North Webster. [[In-content Ad]]
Nationwide, an effort is being made to consolidate railroad crossings.
Railroad crossings with low volume traffic are being closed as part of that consolidation.
Tuesday, Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson presented the county commissioners with a proposal to close the railroad crossing at CR 450E, just south of U.S. 30.
In addition, Yvonne Beyer petitioned to vacate CR 450E, from south of the railroad tracks to Wooster Road. Beyer owns the property on both sides of CR 450E south of the crossing.
Both petitions were tabled until the Jan. 30 commissioner meeting so Ladson can gather more traffic information for the commissioners. The commissioners said they want a traffic count at the crossing and along CR 450E.
Ladson said there was a fatality this year at the railroad crossing. When he asked the state about getting lights and gates at the crossing, state officials replied that crossing was not a priority. However, if the crossing at CR 450E is closed, the crossing at Van Ness Road would become a higher priority on the state's list.
Ladson said he sent letters out to emergency services and received no negative feedback. He did receive several letters in favor of the crossing being closed.
Matt Sandy, Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission assistant planner, said if the railroad crossing is closed, CR 450E would have no access point, so vacating the road would be fine.
Two remonstrators didn't think closing the road and crossing would be OK, though.
Charlie Murphy said the road and crossing are used by area farmers. Many take the road to Stump's Elevator. He said he is not in favor of the crossing closing or of road vacation.
County commissioner Brad Jackson asked Ladson if there had been any traffic count on the road.
"No," said Ladson. "They can be done." Normally, he said, a traffic count is conducted for three days, but the problem they now face may be the weather.
Mike Miner, commissioners' attorney, said a traffic count in December may not be the same as one conducted in September or October when farmers are doing their harvesting.
Jackson told Ladson to do a traffic count on the road and the vacation and closing were tabled.
Three other vacations were presented to the commissioners Tuesday. Of the vacations, the commissioners:
• Approved Byron and Jane Kauffman's petition to vacate a portion of T41 Lane, south of CR 650N, in Tippecanoe Township.
• Approved Mark and Marcia Sell's petition to vacate a portion of B27 Lane. The lane is by Barbee Lake and is a stretch of unimproved road.
• Approved a request by Smith's Resort LLC, Tippecanoe Township, to withdraw their petition. Smith's Resort wanted to vacate approximately 160 feet of W14B Lane, North Webster. [[In-content Ad]]