this was in the gazette...........

Quoted Text

Rotterdam

Take action not to get stuck on train tracks

Re Sept. 5 letter, “Burdeck Street rail crossing needs repair”: I agree that the Burdeck Street railroad crossing has deteriorated to a point where some action should be taken towards repair.

In the meantime, however, I have some advice for Mr. Robert Bubniak. Don’t creep across the tracks. Enter the crossing with enough momentum to carry you clear to the other side. The welfare of your shock absorbers is not worth the loss of your life.

It is not possible to get trapped between the gates, as each gate only blocks one lane. It is possible, however, to become trapped on the tracks by blindly following another vehicle creeping across the track or one that has stopped to wait for someone else to make a turn.

Don’t drive onto the tracks unless there is room on the other side for you to clear them. Drive carefully. Use common sense.

Michael Fealey
Cleveland, NY

Sure, go faster than 20mph and your car will bottom out and cause damage.

The original post it refers to.....

Quoted Text

Burdeck Street rail crossing needs repair
Am I the only one disturbed by the terrible condition of the railroad crossing on Burdeck Street?

The uneven height of the road surface between the tracks causes vehicles to rock quite violently, tossing the occupants around. Most drivers, including myself, try to drive slowly over the uneven surface. To me, this is an accident waiting to happen. Eventually, someone will get caught between the descending arms and will get hit by an oncoming train.

Do we have to wait for an accident to happen before the agency responsible makes the proper repairs to the Burdeck Street railroad crossing?

Robert Bubniak

Schenectady

Quoted from Libertarian4life

Sure, go faster than 20mph and your car will bottom out and cause damage.

when we have to cross those tracks....we go 30mph.

I go 30 over the tracks and my suspension has no problem...when you go slower you get stuck in the 'ditch' and gravity becomes your
enemy....if you stay at the 30mph your forward motion takes care of the 'ditch' and you 'fly' over it.....

There are signs about Burdeck St road closure at RR starting this Saturday and ending Thursday. Are they finally will fix that damn intersection? I travel there everyday and this has to be the worst RR crossing in upstate ny.

Quoted from 87737

There are signs about Burdeck St road closure at RR starting this Saturday and ending Thursday. Are they finally will fix that damn intersection?

I heard there were signs on the burdeck street closing yesterday.

they said they didn't know why?

Quoted from bumblethru

I heard there were signs on the burdeck street closing yesterday.

they said they didn't know why?

That what I'm wondering myself. I know they installed new sets of traffic lights just past crossing but they not operational yet and I don't think they would close the road for 5 days just to turn them on. I'm hoping they finally do proper repairs at that crossing but I think I have better chance to see fish ride a bicycle.

yup it's suppose to be fixin' the tracks...FINALLY.

Folks - especially those who criticize here or in letters to the editor - should be aware that the owners of the railroad, who do not fall under the regulatory control of the town nor the county, bears responsibility for the railroad crossing.  The only real long term solution would be to raise the tracks and build a bridge for the trains over the road or build a bridge for vehicular traffic over the tracks --- neither seems like a viable solution due to the cost and, in the case of the vehicular traffic, engineering nightmare.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Folks - especially those who criticize here or in letters to the editor - should be aware that the owners of the railroad, who do not fall under the regulatory control of the town nor the county, bears responsibility for the railroad crossing.  The only real long term solution would be to raise the tracks and build a bridge for the trains over the road or build a bridge for vehicular traffic over the tracks --- neither seems like a viable solution due to the cost and, in the case of the vehicular traffic, engineering nightmare.

DVOR You are correct that they (CSX) does not answer to the town or county but they (CSX) is responsible for making the crossings safe for the public to pass over and this one is not safe for vehicles especially the two wheel type.

The town and the county do however have a responsibility to call out those entities such as CSX to fix dangerous situations that affect the public, and if those entities continue to ignore or fail to properly remedy the situation then it is the town/county duty to pursue legal actions to force the repair of the issue. Of course our inept town officials will not get off their collective a55 to do anything but help pad the pockets of their friends and families at the expense of the average tax payer, and since our town attorney lacks any practical experience in any area of law related to towns and municipalities I am sure we would have to spend tax payer monies on outside counsel to handle this problem.

Quoted from RPEGCL

DVOR You are correct that they (CSX) does not answer to the town or county but they (CSX) is responsible for making the crossings safe for the public to pass over and this one is not safe for vehicles especially the two wheel type.

The town and the county do however have a responsibility to call out those entities such as CSX to fix dangerous situations that affect the public, and if those entities continue to ignore or fail to properly remedy the situation then it is the town/county duty to pursue legal actions to force the repair of the issue. Of course our inept town officials will not get off their collective a55 to do anything but help pad the pockets of their friends and families at the expense of the average tax payer, and since our town attorney lacks any practical experience in any area of law related to towns and municipalities I am sure we would have to spend tax payer monies on outside counsel to handle this problem.

I suggest that you provide proof that our town and county officials have NOT made any effort to contact CSX  or any of the various entities that have controlled the railroad lines in our town over the past 20 years.  I happen to know for a FACT that BOTH Democratic and Republican town supervisors - and other relevant town officials and employees - have tried to deal with the railroad companies on this and other issues.   The simple fact is that the town doesn't have any leverage - the federal government would because it regulates railroads - and, furthermore, the  rail crossing on Burdeck Street is a particularly difficult one to fix (long-term).  Do you build a bridge to bring the rail traffic over the vehicular traffic or a bridge to bring the vehicular traffic over the rail traffic?   One of those options would seem to be the only real solution -- and neither of them would be inexpensive or easy from an engineering/design perspective.  

Quoted from RPEGCL

DVOR You are correct that they (CSX) does not answer to the town or county but they (CSX) is responsible for making the crossings safe for the public to pass over and this one is not safe for vehicles especially the two wheel type.

The town and the county do however have a responsibility to call out those entities such as CSX to fix dangerous situations that affect the public, and if those entities continue to ignore or fail to properly remedy the situation then it is the town/county duty to pursue legal actions to force the repair of the issue. Of course our inept town officials will not get off their collective a55 to do anything but help pad the pockets of their friends and families at the expense of the average tax payer, and since our town attorney lacks any practical experience in any area of law related to towns and municipalities I am sure we would have to spend tax payer monies on outside counsel to handle this problem.

And I believe Burdeck Street is a state road.  So the state of NY bears some responsibility.  But then, Cuomo is be just like his buddies in Schenectady -- more interested in giving out tax breaks to rich political cronies and to hell with the people

well...........at least they are being fixed NOW!!

Next.....get the tractor trailers off the side of the road where they park...by schalmont school.

the town needs to enforce that law!

there are signs posted...'no parking'.