Rochester pushes for rail safety
On Monday, Rochester public safety officers will meet state officials to discuss the possibility of bringing safety upgrades to a rail crossing on County Road.
The crossing soon will see the arrival of higher-speed CapeFLYER trains, traveling at a maximum of 59 miles per hour through town. The additional rail service is a joint venture of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, and the state’s Department of Transportation
The meeting was announced at Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting.
Railroad service begins on Memorial Day weekend. Trains are scheduled to pass through town on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera requested the state install flashing lights before the crossing. The tracks cross the road before curves in the road, which limits driver’s view of the crossing on approach. The lights are estimated to cost $8,000 a piece.
State officials told LaCamera no money was left for the safety measures.
“I told them, ‘you’re spending six million dollars to update rails between here and Bourne, and you can’t spend eight thousand dollars to put in flashing lights?”’ he said. “A lot of people are very upset.”
The meeting takes place at 6:45 p.m. in Rochester Town Hall. The town’s fire and police chiefs are slated to attend.
LaCamera said joint emails from Rochester and Middleboro, where similar concerns were expressed, were sent to the state.