BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOVELAND -- Councilwoman Donna Lajcak thinks the flashing lights on two busy railroad crossings are not enough. She wants gates added to reduce the risk of tragedy.
With continued development, the popularity of the bike trail, the national bicycle championships coming to Loveland this summer and other city draws, pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic will continue to grow, Mrs. Lajcak said.
"I'm trying to look at this with foresight," said Mrs. Lajcak, who has been proposing that the city pursue crossing gates for the track on Loveland Avenue since shortly after she took office in January1996. "We have to be concerned about the safety of our residents." And because traffic on the Ohio 48 crossing is also increasing, she said the city should consider gates, estimated to cost $140,000 to $180,000.
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) records show that there have been no accidents at any of Loveland's four railroad crossings for at least 10 years. But that is not unusual and does not negate the need for gates, said Dick Kimmins, PUCO media director.
In fact, most communities don't have many accidents. There are about 200 annually statewide, and fatalities are fewer still -- 27 in Ohio last year on the state's estimated 7,000 public railroad crossings. "But our goal is zero," Mr. Kimmins said.
City Manager Mark Fitzgerald said he will hire a consultant to conduct a safety study of the crossing, get details on cost and seek information on a matching grant from PUCO.
While other officials concur that residents' safety is a priority, some question whether crossing gates are the best answer. They want to see a study on the need, other safety options and costs.
Gates don't always stop vehicles from going onto railroad tracks, Councilman David Bair said.
"I personally think the arms encourage people to try to hurry and beat them coming down . . . you still have a potential danger," Mr. Bair said. He said he's heard that stop signs are the best way to improve safety, but that's unpopular among motorists because it can mean traffic backups.
But Mr. Kimmins said while stop signs may be effective if motorists observe them, they are not as effective as flashing lights and gates. And PUCO statistics show that gates and flashing lights definitely reduce accidents.
Mrs. Lajcak said her resolve to get some action was strengthened in recent weeks when she saw children on bicycles zipping toward an approaching train on the Loveland Avenue tracks.
"They stopped just in the nick of time, and the train sped by," she said. "I know we can't protect people from everything, but I think we should do everything we reasonably can do to help. If the gates save just one child, one adult, it will be worth it all."
