Gillibrand: FRA To Demand Fix For Rails In Middletown, N.Y.
Written by jrood
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she won the commitment of the Federal Rail Authority to complete critical repairs to railroad tracks in Middletown, N.Y. Constituents in the area brought the worn down tracks to Senator Gillibrand, who took their concerns to the FRA and urged them to make repairs to the Crawford Industrial Track at Railroad Avenue, Wisner Avenue Crossing and other locations in the area.
"Repairing aging
infrastructure is one of the best things we can do to help get our economy back
on track," Senator Gillibrand said. "No one knows our roads, bridges
and railways better than the New Yorkers who use them every day. I’ve always
believed that some of the best ideas for policy come from the families and
citizens it affects most. Middletown constituents brought these broken down
rails to my attention, and I took their concerns to the FRA to make sure we get
the repairs these tracks need."
The Norfolk Southern, which
owns and operates the railroad, committed to the FRA to make all necessary
repairs at Railroad Avenue and expects to complete them by the end of
September. NS also expects to have all missing crossbucks and emergency signage
reinstalled at Cottage Street, Montgomery Street, Wickham Avenue and East Main Street
in the same timeframe.
NS also committed to making
all necessary repairs to the Wisner Avenue Crossing and expects to complete
repairs during spring of 2010. Missing crossbucks and emergency signage at this
location will be reinstalled with the other locations by the end of September.
Later this month, Senator
Gillibrand’s staff will be holding a meeting with officials from the city and
the railroad to discuss proposals for repairs needed at Wisner Avenue Crossing.
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