Quincy train crossing blockage questioned

QUINCY — A decision to allow a train to block Columbia Way, drew questions and concerns at the last Quincy City Council meeting.

Diane Calloway questioned whether the city and port talked to business owners before agreeing to allow a train to stop at Columbia Way for up to 45 minutes starting in late March. The train would also block Third Street or Road O Northwest for 15 minutes. The closures are planned to take place between 2 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. from Tuesday until Sunday.

“Do you realize how much truck traffic that road has?” Calloway asked. “Because I live there, I know how it has picked up. It’s 24/7. I know the mayor had said he had spoken to agencies about the road closure and I don’t know if he meant like other agencies like cities or stuff, or if he talked to some of the people who used the road.”

City Administrator Tim Snead answered city officials spoke with the hospital district, the fire district and the school district.

Calloway continued, saying she spoke with the manager at Celite, a silicon plant, and the owner of Apache Trucking. Both men told her no one contacted them about the closure.

“I attend the port meetings, and I know they discussed that they had communicated with many of those businesses,” Councilmember Scott Lybbert said. “That’s why I’m kind of curious about who you talked to.”

Calloway said the trucks going to Celite would need to be rerouted down A Street, adding the curve on the road is problematic for trucks.

Councilmember Jose Saldana said Celite can bypass the train by traveling down A Street and B Street and Road 10.5.

When Saldana said Celite uses A Street, Calloway said the manager told her the company only uses A Street for refueling trucks.

“I have seen a lot of trucks going through there, so they can go either way,” Saldana said. “The effect for them is going to be very minimal … If we knew it was going to be a problem with that we would have said, ‘No way.’”

When Calloway pressed if Saldana talked with the manager, the councilmember said he hadn’t.

She also questioned where the trucks would go when the train is blocking Columbia Way, saying she counted five semis and three cars waiting during a six-minute wait on Columbia Way on a Wednesday morning.

“If it’s closed, where are they parking?” she asked.

Port Commissioner Curt Morris said signs about the closure would be put up, adding the best way to direct trucks heading to Columbia Colstor was Road O and trucks heading to Celite should travel on Third Street.

“We’re talking about a habit and a routine,” Lybbert said. “Truck drivers are going to know that they’re not want to go in that direction.”

Calloway said the companies don’t always have the same truck drivers.

“You’re right, but the majority though, 80 percent, are going to be the same truck drivers. They’re going to know the system,” Lybbert said. “So where talking about the handful of trucks that show up and go, ‘Oh darn.’”

Lybbert added he is sure the signs will be placed before the truck drivers are stuck waiting for the train to finish. He suggested the port install flashing lights along with the signs.

Originally published March 5, 2010