The Chesterton Town Council voted unanimously at its meeting Monday night, March 24, to direct Engineering to undertake the design of a pedestrian railroad crossing of the Norfolk Southern tracks on South Calumet Road.
That move follows the Town Council’s discussion of railroad safety at its March 10 meeting.
“All crossings need to be considered,” said Member Erin Collins, D-2nd. “But at this point I think we should start with the Calumet crossing because we have the parking lot that’s going to be there. Then we’ll get a better feel for what the process is, how long it will take, and then absolutely we can discuss other crossings as well. I would love to have pedestrian crossings at all of them. But let’s see what this process is all about.”
In related news, Assistant Matt Gavelek reported that he and Town Engineer Mark O’Dell met with Norfolk Southern officials on Thursday, March 13, after Member Jim Ton, R-1st, had provided Engineering with their contact information.
"It was a highly 'constructive' meeting," Gavelek said. “They were very knowledgeable about our shared crossings throughout the whole town and they asked us to communicate to the council their support for safety improvements. They shared with us permitting tips and grant opportunities. In addition, they offered to help with any kind of public awareness.”
Meanwhile, with the assistance of contracted grant consultant Tina Rongers, Gavelek and O’Dell submitted a grant application to the office of U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-1st, for pedestrian safety improvements at the nine grade-crossings in the towns of Chesterton and Porter.
“The proposed improvements include pedestrian gates and passive Z-gates,” Gavelek told the Town Council. “The grant is not guaranteed but it has a unique need, and (Rongers) believes that it will rise to the top. Mrvan’s office will review and respond back with feedback.”