Bad railroad crossing not our fault, Fairfield, Maine, says

Written by jrood

The rough railroad crossings throughout the town of Fairfield, Maine, are a source of constant complaints to local officials, the Waterville Morning Sentinel reports. But because the railroad is privately owned, the town can't repair the crossings. The latest solution is to let aggravated drivers know who can fix them.  

The Town Council voted to
spend $300 on two signs that would be placed near railroad crossings in town,
on a rotation. The reflective orange signs would caution drivers about the
rough road ahead and suggest driving less than 10 miles per hour, said Interim
Town Manager Dwight Dogherty.

Most importantly,
councilors said, the signs would direct complaints to Pan Am Railways and
provide the company’s 800 number.

"I think it’s the
greatest thing that’s ever happened because we aren’t getting any cooperation
from Pan Am," said Councilor Donald Giroux.

Giroux said, in addition
to hearing from residents about the rough crossings, he’s gotten complaints
about lead-based paint falling from overpasses owned by the railway.

The police department has
gotten calls about crossing lights flashing when there are no trains passing,
said Fairfield Police Officer Casey Dugas.

Giroux said he’s relayed
the complaints to Pan Am, but the railway has been unresponsive. Pan Am didn’t
return a call seeking comment.

"We’ve been getting
complaint after complaint and have gone out of our way (to try to work with the
railway)," Giroux said. "They’ll do nothing unless it’s a hazard or
safety item. They certainly are not interested in spending a penny on the
railroad crossings — that’s for sure."

Dogherty said the town
isn’t allowed to work on the road within 18 inches of the railway on either
side.

"We have no right to
spend money on private property," he said.

Dogherty came up with the
idea for the signs and said they likely would go up within a few weeks. He said
they would remain at each crossing "long enough to let people jot down the
number and call it up and complain."

The three councilors
present — Giroux, Andy York and Ed Finch — voted in favor of buying the
signs.

"If nothing more,
we’ll embarrass them, I guess," said Giroux.

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