I along with my colleagues recently announced that we will look at ways to expedite a railroad modernization project, at a dangerous crossing in Redding.
There was a horrible accident on Dec. 30 between a car and a Metro-North train.
The crash killed two people and left two others in the hospital.
You can read more on the accident by clicking on the link below.
Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/As-rail-projects-stall-questions-arise-4169804.php#ixzz2HKQnKVLo
Here is the letter we penned to the Department of Transportation Commissioner and the President of the Metro North Transportation Association.
James Redeker
Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner, Legislative Program
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Newington, CT 06131-7546
Howard R. Permut
President MTA Metro-North Railroad
347 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017-3739
January 4, 2013
Dear Commissioner Redeker and Mr. Permut,
We were saddened to hear about the Dec. 30 accident in West Redding Center, Connecticut, which killed a Danbury resident and injured three others. Department of Transportation records indicate this is the third accident at the West Redding Train Station since 1970, and the first one resulting in a fatality. Other accidents occurred in 1989 and 2010.
As you may be aware, state bond money was approved in 2009 for a number of railroad crossing improvement projects. The West Redding project is still in the design stage and would not begin until the fall of 2014.
Separately, we understand that there is a Metro-North project at the same crossing that calls for the installation of gates and other safety improvements this year.
In order to make sure these improvements are made as soon as possible, we would like to set up a meeting with you or your representatives. We want to make sure that what happened Dec. 30 does not happen again.
Please let us know at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Michael McLachlan/State Senator
Toni Boucher/State Senator
John Shaban/State Representative
