Closed Crossings A 'Done Deal'
Rep. Moore Chides City Council For Leaving Kannapolis Residents Out Of Plans

BY MATTHEW WINTER
SALISBURY POST

KANNAPOLIS - A new citizen group that protested the closing of three railroad crossings heard disappointing news from state Rep. Richard Moore on Tuesday night: "It's a done deal."

However, the Kannapolis Democrat agreed with the group that Kannapolis City Council did not go out of its way to work with its constituents on the closings. He urged the city to "keep everyone informed" about future projects.

"The process - yes, it could have been handled better," Moore said.

The Citizen Political Action League (CPAL), formed by Kannapolis residents to fight the state's efforts to close railroad crossings in the region, asked Moore and state Rep. Charlotte Gardner, a veteran Republican from Salisbury, to join a meeting Tuesday night at Cosmos restaurant in North Kannapolis.

Both legislators attended, as did former Mayor Richard Anderson and Phil Meacham, the only City Council member to voice opposition to the rail plans.

Members of the group claim the council quietly pushed through an agreement with the state Rail Division earlier this fall that would immediately close city maintained crossings at Plymouth and East C streets and a state-maintained crossing at Ebenezer Road. Three other closings would follow two overpass projects.

Kannapolis was the first city in South Rowan to fall in line with the state's regional plan to consolidate crossings. China Grove soon followed, and after stubborn resistance, Landis officials signed an agreement this week.

The opposition group collected thousands of signatures on a petition intended to convince Kannapolis City Council to reverse its decision on closing the three crossings.

Moore said Tuesday he could find no method for the city to "get out of" its agreement with the state to close the crossings, but he urged the group to check with council members.

"This is our problem," Judy Gardner said. "They won't work with us."

Anderson, who this fall lost a Cabarrus County Commission race, said he, too, believes the three closings are now unavoidable.

"The only decision you've got left to make is when election time comes around, you can tell them about it," Anderson said.

Moore recommended the group concentrate on urging the council to include the public in its decision-making process and to immediately begin lobbying the state for overpass money. He also suggested the city pressure the state - to pressure the railroad - to get idle railroad cars off the tracks in Kannapolis.

Moore said he has heard rumors that the state may wind up choosing between Landis and North Kannapolis for an overpass, even though the Rail Division has promised to study building overpasses in each town.

"We need to start lobbying now for this overpass, or others will," he said.

Moore suggested members of the citizens group meet with City Council members to develop a lobbying strategy.

While Moore seemed optimistic about the city's chances in a fight for overpass funding, Rep. Gardner bemoaned the state's highway funding process. Politicians, she said, dip into state highway funds for outside projects while foolishly promising their constituents new roads.

"You say fight for an overpass," Gardner said. "Fight who? A hundred counties for a thousand projects everyone thinks are crucial? Where's the money going to come from?"

More than one member of the citizens group had a suggestion: Make the railroad pay for elevating their high speed train or running it underground, through a ditch or around cities.

Both Moore and Rail Division project manager Michael Shumsky explained to the group that the public, through the North Carolina Railroad, owns the tracks. Both also pointed out that safety concerns and plans to increase Norfolk Southern freight on the line are driving the closing campaign as much as plans for a high speed commuter train.

Moore, a Kannapolis school teacher, admitted that the upcoming loss of crossings will "funnel me in a way I don't want to be funnelled." However, he also predicted that 50 years from now, people living in Kannapolis, China Grove and Landis will benefit from a high speed rail system.