By KEVIN NEVERS
Ever wonder—while you’re waiting in your car at a grade crossing in town,
signal activated and lights flashing—what the crew of the train stopped dead
on the tracks is doing?
Evidently, now and then, conductor and company are ordering coffee or
sandwiches at a nearby diner.
So Member Mike Bannon, R-5th, indicated at Monday’s meeting of the
Chesterton Town Council.
Is there anything the town can do? Bannon asked Police Chief George Nelson.
Well, yes, sort of, Nelson said. For one thing residents should contact the
CPD. As it happens, the conductor of a crew which stops its train and blocks
a grade crossing for a certain period of time without a “valid
reason”—supper at the Northside not being one—can be arrested and
transported to jail.
The problem with that solution, Nelson added, is that it really solves
nothing. Because once the conductor has been hauled off to jail, the train
cannot operate until a new conductor has been brought on board. And that can
take hours.
Nelson did urge residents to contact the Federal Rail Administration (FRA),
which takes train complains very seriously and has a willingness to issue
sanctions.
The burning question: has the CPD ever busted a conductor for blocking a
grade crossing without a valid reason?
Yes, Nelson told the Chesterton Tribune after the meeting. And it only made
the situation worse.
For the Good of the Community
•President Frank Sessa, D-2nd, told his colleagues that he would attend a
ceremony at 5 p.m. today at the Valparaiso University Christopher Center
formalizing the establishment of the Porter County Economic Development
Alliance Partnership, a body comprised of representatives of the Duneland,
Portage, and Valparaiso economic development corporations and the Hebron and
Kouts redevelopment commissions.
•In a communication to the council, United Way of Porter County President
Sharon Kish thanked members for proclaiming, as they did at their last
meeting, October to be United Way Month in the Town of Chesterton. “We truly
appreciate your help and support in this effort,” she w rote. “Our goal is
to raise $1,875,000 to preserve the safety net of health and human services.
We are grateful for your leadership and commitment to improving the quality
of life for all Porter County residents.”
•In a communication to the council, the First Christian Church thanked the
town for installing a guard rail at the intersection of Porter Ave. and 11th
Street, where within the space of a year two motorists northbound on 11th
Street blew the stop sign at Porter Ave. and drove into the church, causing
considerable damage on both occasions. “We appreciate the town’s
consideration of this dangerous intersection and quick response in regard to
this problem—the installation of a guard rail,” Senior Pastor Scott Morris
wrote. “We also thank the Chesterton Police Department for their quick and
professional response in regards to both of the incidents.”
•In a communication to the council, Jackson Township resident Frederick
Meyer asked members to petition the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation
District for a change in the South Shore Railroad schedule which would
replace the 10:15 p.m. departure time from the Randolph Street station on
weekdays and the 10 p.m. departure time on weekends with an 11 p.m.
departure. An “11 p.m. train would better serve the needs of people who wish
to exploit the culture and entertainment possibilities of the magnificent
city only about an hour train ride away,” Meyer wrote. Members took no
action on Meyer’s request.
•From the floor Leonard Sullivan asked the council to compel the owner of
Popolano’s Restaurant at 225 S. Calumet Road to install lighting in the
parking lot located off East Morgan Ave. Sullivan said that at night
customers—especially out-of-town customers—have a hard time finding the
entrance to the parking lot in the dark, and that while they’re stopped on
East Morgan looking for the road cut they risk being rear-ended. “It’s a
wonder there’s been no accidents there.” Members took no action on
Sullivan’s request.
Posted 10/27/2004
