UNION PACIFIC TELLS CITIZENS NO MONEY HAS BEEN OFFERED TO CLOSE RAILROAD CROSSINGS OGDEN, IA -- Union Pacific's liaison, Patrick Halsted, told approximately 30 attending the city council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, that rumors that UP has offered the city money to close a railroad crossing here "are not true." Instead, Halsted commented, "Ogden is at a point to where it needs to assess needs long-range so far as the railroad is concerned. The time is right to discuss the issues." He said Union Pacific would be open to future discussions on such items as an overpass, underpass and quiet zones, but pointed out that costs would be substantial to both the city and the railroad. He also indicated that federal regulations concerning quiet zones are numerous and specific. No plans or estimates for any of those items have been presented. Halsted said UP is interested in safety at railroad crossings, which could be accomplished by the consolidation of crossings, but several citizens present said doing that in the name of safety would be a "hard sell" because there have been very few accidents, if any, on crossings in Ogden for many years. Citizens did point out that they have seen people cross illegally - with the bars down or red lights flashing. Halsted said he is aware of that not only in Ogden, but elsewhere, and that youngsters cross the tracks in unsafe, unprotected areas, considered trespassing. Halsted said what UP would really like to see the City of Ogden do is to begin long-range planning as it involves the railroad, and to sit down with UP officials to help develop plans. That type of planning could take years, officials indicated. Some citizens said they wouldn't oppose closing a crossing if there was an overpass or underpass constructed, but that they do not want to see a viaduct similar to the one over the tracks on Highway 169 west of Ogden, built in the middle of town. Meanwhile, Kit Huntley presented petitions bearing 125 names opposing the closing of a railroad crossing here. A week ago she presented petitions containing 249 signatures. At the meeting's conclusion, a citizen asked "Does this mean that the city isn't going to close the NE 3rd crossing?" Mayor Mark Trueblood responded, "Have we ever said we were going to close a crossing in Ogden?" Halsted was asked if UP could close a crossing without the city council's approval. He responded, "No." - The Ogden Reporter
