| The Railroad
Safety Taskforce Holds 100th Meeting
Medina County Living
By Angela Huston
Published: Saturday, May 4, 2013
May 1 was a landmark day for the Medina Railroad Safety Taskforce
as it held its 100th meeting since its inception in 2002. Medina
County Commissioner Pat Geissman had been moved by the actions
of Vickie and Dennis Moore, who established the Angels on the
Tracks Foundation after their son was killed at a railroad
crossing. Shortly thereafter, she received a phone call from
Medina resident David Riffer expressing concerns about areas
of the River Styx trestle that looked dangerous.
That expressed concern, along with the information that Medina
County has 108 railroad crossings and more vehicle/crossing
accidents than any other county in the state, was enough of
an incentive for her to form the local taskforce and look into
the problem.
Geissman formed the taskforce with key
county people – school
officials, state highway and sheriff agents, concerned residents,
railroad workers, city planning department people, transportation
department members, emergency management individuals, city
service directors – and set about the job of investigating
the sites and making those at risk safer.
The taskforce was told the River Styx site had passed inspection,
but they were unable to get a copy of the report. After much
red tape, they proved there were possible safety threats and
finally got a grant to improve the situation.
The Bonita Road crossing was the most
challenging. The team was originally turned down because
it was said the problems were too difficult to overcome,
but the persistent taskforce was ultimately successful. Geissman
said, “This is not
a group to say no to!”
Members of the group spent a year walking the tracks at every
crossing, photographing all the sites and gathering information
before enlisting the assistance of the PUCO (Public Utilities
Commission of Ohio), which became instrumental in helping the
taskforce accomplish its goal of making all the crossings safer.
Each member of the taskforce – Pat
Geissman, Will Koran, Nino Piccoli, David Riffer, Lee Geissman,
Jeff Harraman, Rob Henwood, Rob Smykal, Pam Vereb, Adam Friedrick,
Matt Hiscock, Peggy Folk, and Pat Crouch - identified ways
they and their organizations could collectively work through
the issues, and were able to take appropriate measures to
solve the problems and provide greater safety to the community
at these sites.
Also attending the meeting from Columbus were Milan Orbovich,
Director, Transportation Department, Randall Schumacher, Supervisor,
Rail Division, Transportation Department, and Julie Kaercher
(ORDC). The three agreed Medina County serves as a role model
for the entire state; they wish other counties would find leadership
to follow its example and do this.
To date, 72 of the 108 crossings have been improved, 47 of
which have been 100 percent done through federal funds. Another
25 crossings have had lights, gates or updated circuitry improved
through state funds with the help of the Ohio Rail Development
Commission (ORDC). More than eight million dollars has come
back into Medina County for railroad improvements. The PUCO
has supplied an additional $400,000 in funding, and ORDC has
supplied $3.3 million towards projects.
The taskforce has made significant strides, but it does not
consider its work to be done yet. They are a dedicated group
of individuals who remain active and are determined to continue
working towards completing their original goal to make all
108 railroad crossings in the county safe.
|
