Train company ticketed for road traffic delays
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, Jun. 11, 2014 - 9:06 am
BENSON, Minn. -- Increased oil production in North Dakota and Canada means more train traffic across Minnesota.
That's causing traffic tie-ups and safety concerns in some cities. Traffic delays at rail crossings in the Swift County community of Benson have become so frustrating that police have issued tickets to Burlington Northern Santa Fe for blocking city streets longer than 10 minutes — the maximum allowed by state law.
"Many, many times you're getting ready for work, and you can hear the whistle just starting to come and you know you might as well stay home," said Cathy Chevalier Lien, a lifelong Benson resident.
Chief Ian Hodge told KARE-TV (
kare11.tv/1ocWLE9
) that his department has issued four citations to the railroad for blocking traffic. Hodge says it's a public safety issue because there are no options for fire trucks and emergency vehicles to get around the trains in a hurry.
"We've had a fire on one side of the tracks, fire department on the other side of the tracks, they can't get to the fire," Hodge explained.
The tickets add up to about $1,200. The railroad will go to court June 19 to fight them. It plans to argue that federal rail regulation trumps state traffic laws.
"Minnesota's blocked crossing statute, as well as enforcement practices of local agencies, conflict with these federal requirements," said Amy McBeth, a Burlington Northern spokeswoman.
Read more here:
www.sacbee.com/2014/06/11/6475548/train-...d.html#storylink=cpy
