DOT Rail Crossing Study Not Yet Completed

Bill requires safety evaluation of all 5,304 rail grade crossings across New York

Valhalla, NY – 7/31/17 – Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant), Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) and Senator Terrence Murphy (R-Westchester) will be joined by Alan Brody to call on the New York State Department of Transportation to complete the comprehensive study and report of the State’s highway railroad grade crossings required by Assemblyman Abinanti’s and Senator Carlucci’s bill (A.5235-B/S.3458-B)  The bill signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in November 2016, required the DOT to evaluate and report on creating enhanced safety measures at all highway-rail crossings in the State by April 1, 2017.

To date, the DOT has not submitted their report. The legislation was proposed in the aftermath of a February 2015 tragic collision involving a Metro North train and a motor vehicle in Valhalla. This important evaluation and study will be used to determine which rail grade crossings require improved safety features, how much it would cost to fix them and review the adequacy of traffic and pedestrian warning signals in order to prevent future collisions between vehicles and trains.

WHO:

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti
Senator David Carlucci
Senator Terrence Murphy
Alan Brody, Husband of Ellen Brody who died in Metro North collision in Valhalla last year

WHAT: Highway Rail Grade Crossing Study Press Conference

WHEN: Monday, July 31- 11:00 A.M.

WHERE: Commerce Street Train Crossing, Valhalla, NY 10595 (intersection of Taconic Parkway and Commerce Street adjacent to Sharon Gardens cemetery)

  DOT, highway rail grade crossing, Terrence Murphy, Tom Abinanti