[RP TownTalk] Road Anarchy, Queensbury & Rt 1

Sat May 22 18:34:45 UTC 2010

I first moved to Riverdale Park in the late the late 1980's, a lot of things we take for granted were distant projects, 
 the college park subway
Paint Branch Parkway
River Road
The buildings along river Road
the Riverdales Mansion was the location of park and planing offices.
the empty Jamal building across form S&J's was a biker bar...

so any changes CSX has on the boards for our at grade crossing are going to be an inevitable future - as long as we live in Riverdale Park.
this is obviously something that will take proactive involvement from the town government. It will take commitment form someone who understands these things and is willing to work for a positive outcome. It cant be faced with an attitude of well its such a big job that it is impossible.

Nothing ever gets done with defeatist attitude. We have serious problem in our town and it needs to be treated as a priority. 
Edmonston seems to have gotten help with its serious problems so why can't Riverdale Park?
Its a matter of commitment.

________________________________
From: Alan K. Thompson <akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov>
To: Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com>
Sent: Sat, May 22, 2010 11:07:26 AM
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Road Anarchy, Queensbury & Rt 1

Melissa,

Vernon does not tend to hide information.  He went to a meeting in November about the third track, and I haven't heard anything more, but I'll ask him next time I see him.

There are already double-decker trains going through town center (there are actually two things going on here -- double decker passenger, which have been happening for the better part of a decade, and "double-stacked" freight, which is relatively new).  The East-West highway bridge is fine with both of them.  If it's a high-speed rail, I sincerely doubt it will happen in the next 10 years.  It's hugely expensive to construct high-speed track, and there just isn't money to do it.  The "stimulus package" high-speed rail money will go to upgrading Amtrak trains on the rail line that goes through New Carrolton before anything would happen here.

The purple line goes under the railroad bridge near the College Park metro and is not impacted by the trains.

The at-grade crossing is being dealt with in a very open manner -- everything that happens is discussed in front of TV cameras, but, at the moment, not much is happening.  As Vernon has said many times, the most likely outcome of us complaining about the crossing is that it will be closed, which would further split the town.  We are working with CSX to have the crossing repaired so cars don't lose their transmissions.  I expect Director Addison to report on this at the next council meeting, as your council rep asked him about it at the last one.

Everyone on the council is extremely committed to having fully transparent and open government.  We all work very hard to communicate what we are doing in a timely manner, but there are only so many hours in the day.  Please don't assume that because you haven't heard about something that we are trying to hide it.  It's much more likely that either nothing is happening (because just staying on top of the basics of running government is a huge job) we have forgotten to mention it, or we didn't think people were interested enough to spend the time and/or space to discuss it.

Speaking of lack of time, I need to get back to the budget now.

Thanks,

Alan

On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Melissa Avery <m.avery at rocketmail.com> wrote:

I do't think we are getting the full story hear.
>Not long ago Vern released some information about CXS expanding to a third rail trough Riverdale Park to make room for a Double Decker high speed Passenger train. From what I understand work on that third rail has already begun near Bladensburg.
>Where is that third rail going to be located?
>How is that going to impact town center as we know it?
>What are the proposals for changing the roads to accommodate double Decker trains?
>How is this all impacted by the purple line?
>
>Do these questions have something to do with why the issue of our very dangerous at grade crossing is not being delt with in an open manor?
>
>
>
> 
>
>
>
________________________________
From: Alan K. Thompson <akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov>
>To: Don Lynch <dlynch at garretroomstudios.com>
>Cc: TownTalk <TownTalk at riverdale-park.org>
>Sent: Fri, May 21, 2010 11:54:58 PM
>Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Road Anarchy, Queensbury & Rt 1
>
>
>Don,
>
>It's my understanding that rail speed limits in the United States are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration and set under 49 CFR 213.9, and that the courts have been pretty stingy in allowing "savings clause" exceptions under 49 U.S.C. §20109 (and our crossing hazards aren't *that* peculiar).  Why, and under what legal authority, do you think the town can regulate the speed of the trains?
>
>It's also my understanding that the State of Maryland, not the town, can change the horn policy.  A process was initiated by former Council Member Hiles many years ago to do this.  I don't know the current status of that process, but I do believe that "the current establishment" is aware of the (limited) powers we have in this matter.
>
>Alan Thompson
>
>
>On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 10:53 PM, Don Lynch <dlynch at garretroomstudios.com> wrote:
>
>I would like to add to my rant, that, unbeknown  to this current establishment, this town has the power to demand the trains lower their horns when traveling through  our "at grade crossing" .
>>
>>Just think what we, as a township, could demand when it comes to at grade speeds through our town and the ability to stop in time to avoid missing something as large as a bus on the tracks.
>>
>>Don 
>>
>>
>>Don Lynch wrote:
>>
>>We contacted the police chief about stop sign runners on Lafayette Drive , but to no avail.
>>>
>>>I intend to film the gross infarctions on that street and our own Ravenswood Rd to clearly point out the problem.
>>>
>>>I thought the train running into a bus would prompt a change in this town but then I realized it is Riverdale Park, where no one really cares.
>>>
>>>What does it take?
>>>
>>>Don
>>>
>>>
>>>Dwight Holmes wrote:
>>>
>>>I was contemplating Gomer Pyle's 'citizen's arrest' strategy, but
>>>>thought better of it...
>>>>
>>>>On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 5:04 PM,  <OurDollMom at aol.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>
>>>>If I try to cross Queensbury & Rt 1
>>>>>during breakfast or dinner time any
>>>>>evening, people pull right up and do
>>>>>not care about who has right of way
>>>>>etc.& just block the way.  Maybe
>>>>>some tickets would be good.  em
>>>>>   
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>

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