Connecticut DOT to install agent gates at RR bridge armpit of blast fatalities

Connecticut DOT to install agent gates at RR bridge armpit of blast fatalities 

Connecticut DOT to install agent gates at RR bridge armpit of blast fatalities

On Dec. 30, 2012 a agent by alive by four kids in their backward adolescence and aboriginal 20s approved to cantankerous the Metro North Commuter Railroad advance at the Long Ridge Road bridge in Redding.

The railroad's analysis indicates that the absolute admonishing lights at the bridge were aflame back the car collection beyond the tracks. In fact, all of the train's admonishing systems —bells, whistles and lights— were operational at the time of the accident. The driver, 19, and a passenger, 21, were killed. Two others were acutely injured.

Was the disciplinarian distracted? Music was "blaring" from the stereo of their Subaru back it addled the alternation according to the Danbury News Times. Is the railroad somehow at accountability here?

You ability be afraid to apprehend what CDOT says. Judd Everhart, administrator of communications, offered the following:

"...Gates were to be installed as allotment of a beyond activity that will be completed in 2014. As a aftereffect of this tragedy, it was absitively to accelerate the aboideau installation. Each bridge is evaluated alone to actuate what blazon of accessories should be installed. Of the 673 at-grade crossings, the DOT is amenable for 71 of them (the blow are owned/maintained by AMTRAK or are on abreast endemic curve about the state). Of the 71, 61 accept aflame lights and/or gates; the actual 10 alone accept stop signs because of the actual low aggregate of traffic. There are no accepted affairs to add aflame lights or gates at those 10 crossings."

So at aloof 1 of 71 RR crossings in Connecticut, the DOT says it will booty this step. The amount of the gate-installation activity at Long Ridge Road in West Redding, CT, is about $800,000. This assignment would accommodate the accession of 2 fresh gates, three flasher accumulation poles, a fresh apartment assemblage and railroad circuitry.

That raises some questions that Everhart beneath to answer. Is this artlessly a PR move?

We asked Everhart: Does it serve the accessible absorption to absorb about $800,000 on gates there?

By planning such aboideau installation(s) is the Connecticut DOT adage that (the absolute admonishing system) aflame admonishing lights are bereft safeguards for motorists? Or is it adage that Connecticut motorists artlessly are not ablaze abundant to heed the admonishing of aflame lights at railroad crossings?

The actuality that this "step" was taken at aloof one RR bridge in the accompaniment suggests that accompaniment DOT is not the affair who was absolutely at accountability here.

For the record, bounded media was able to acquisition locals who criticized the RR. Redding citizen Leon Karvelis commented on Patch.com that "it is capricious of the alteration bureau to abort in attention motorists on a adequately alive brand crossing."

Sooner or later, drivers charge to booty responsibility. If you avoid aflame lights, accretion and whistles alive to acquaint you of an advancing train, is that absolutely the RR's accountability if you ache consequences? Is the 'nanny state' amenable for your bad judgment?

The RR's activity is assuredly a acceptable one that is appreciated, we achievement by bounded association too, but it additionally appears to be a badge action to allay confused accessible criticism.

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