Landis Residents Say No To Closing Crossings

BY MATTHEW WINTER
SALISBURY POST

LANDIS - Dozens of residents packed the Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night to ask their leaders to stand firm against closing any railroad crossings in town until the state builds an overpass.

In doing so, they may have unknowingly pushed the board to give up future state funding for an overpass.

The state is trying to close dozens of at-grade railroad crossings - those without an under- or overpass - from Charlotte to Salisbury as part of a regional plan to reduce accidents. The closings also will accommodate more freight trains and a proposed high-speed commuter train between Raleigh to Charlotte.

State Rail Division engineer Michael Shumsky, who is leading the crossing consolidation project, explained to the crowd Monday night that safety concerns, not the high speed rail, are driving the state's plans.

But many residents remain unconvinced.

"Who's going to profit?" David Heath asked. "Not us - some fat cat. Am I supposed to be inconvenienced on a daily basis for someone else to make money?"

Most of the residents who addressed the board seemed to distrust the state's promise to find funding for an overpass at Kimball Road between China Grove and Landis, and most didn't put much stock in the state's only concession so far - to study the possibility of building another overpass in or near Landis.

"Don't give up anything until we get ours first," Frank Parnell advised.

"If we can't get it (an overpass), I think we need to stop right where we are," Debbie Roach said, citing safety for children who walk to school over the tracks.

"A hundred years ago, towns like this were begging for the railroad. It was our life blood," Mike Shipwash said. "But times have changed. Now we just want them out of here."

Randy Troutman cracked up the crowd by second-guessing the usefulness of a high speed rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte, a goal championed by Gov. Jim Hunt.

"What's so important about getting to Raleigh in an hour and a half, anyway?" Troutman said. "I've never seen anything up there worth breaking my neck over."

However, even though more than 30 residents spoke during the public hearing, the one point which may weigh heaviest in the board's consideration was never discussed publicly: If Landis doesn't play ball, about $150,000 of the state's money now earmarked for safety improvements at Landis railroad crossings will disappear.

And the board might as well forget about an overpass in town if it refuses to cooperate, a situation that would force frustrated Landis motorists to cope with nearly double the number of freight trains in upcoming years, according to state officials.

"How can we commit to long term funding if we can't even get a short-term commitment from the town for safety?" Shumsky said after the two-hour public hearing. "If Landis doesn't want to sign a memorandum of understanding with us, the money set aside for near-term improvements will be used in cooperating towns.

"We will work with those who will work with us."

LOSING STATE MONEY

Bobby Wood, town clerk, said Tuesday board members are well aware of the potential for losing state money for an overpass and other improvements if they fail to sign a agreement with the state to close Mill Street.

"I wish that had come out in the meeting last night," Wood said. "If safety is their real issue, then why are they willing to walk away and do nothing?"

Mayor Fred Steen said Monday the board probably will announce its decision on the closings during a special meeting in the board meeting room, 312 S. Main St., at 7 p.m. next Monday.

Steen said Tuesday the board remains unsure on the issue and is aware of the risks associated with following constituents' wishes to stand up to the railroad.

"I think it was clear last night that the citizens think there's no longterm commitment from the state for an overpass," Steen said. "That's the voice you heard last night - they want a commitment, not just a promise to study the issue."

So far the state has secured agreements to close crossings with the governing bodies of Kannapolis, China Grove, Concord and other railroad towns. Landis and Harrisburg are the only two remaining holdouts in the area.

Landis' position is bolstered by the fact that three of is four crossings are maintained by the town, meaning the state can not close these crossings without town approval. The state controls only Ryder

Avenue, and that crossing isn't slated for closing.

The state has asked the Landis board to close its Mill Street crossing within the next two years and its Central Avenue Extension crossing after the Kimball Road overpass is completed. The state also asked the town to close its Round Street crossing after another overpass is built.

The average overpass costs between $3 million and $4 million and takes five to seven years to build, Shumsky said.

In return for these commitments, the state would straighten out and level the Central Avenue crossing and install longer gate arms. The state also would improve the Ryder Avenue crossing and conduct a study to find the best place for another overpass, possibly Rice Street in Landis or 22nd Street in North Kannapolis.

RESIDENTS NOT SATISFIED

But these concessions didn't suit most of the residents who showed up Monday.

Dr. Jim Saver, who practices from an office on Main Street, said he watches children cross he tracks every afternoon. L.A. Overcash, a China Grove School board member, agreed with Dr. Saver that a pedestrian overpass is needed. Both suggested the state rethink its plans for high speed commuter trains.

Parnell, who advised the board to hold out for an overpass, also advised against a high speed rail.

Parnell said he rode such a train in Japan and found it to be a "God-awful, white-knuckle experience."

If such a train were to derail as it passed through Landis, the town would "cease to exist," he said.

Pam Martin warned the board to consider how closing the crossings would simply funnel the 10,000 vehicles crossing the tracks in town every day through three crossings instead of four. She asked panel members to consider the economic impact Landis shopkeepers will suffer due to frustrating traffic.

Amy Gardner asked why the state and Norfolk Southern couldn't pitch in to elevate or bury the railroad. Shumsky said such a project is "cost-prohibitive."

Kyle Corriher claimed the Norfolk Southern and the state Rail Division are "more interested in profits than in safety." Jerry Wright suggested the state sink all the money it plans for shortterm crossing improvements into an overpass.

The Township of Landis, Rita Goins argued, can't afford fewer crossings. "I don't want us to get smushed out by the railroad," she said.

Mike Beaver, who said he and his neighbor have had heart problems, worried that the town's emergency crews will take longer to reach him if any crossings are closed.

Tony Hilton, however, pointed out that Norfolk Southern plans to increase both the number and size of freight trains through town - some up to 10 miles long.

"We can leave all the crossings open, but if they're all blocked by a train it won't matter," Hilton said. An overpass is the only answer, he said.