Traffic changes, barriers to businesses would result

By Matt Neznanski


Gazette-Times reporter

Citing unsafe crossings at Seventh and 11th streets, state transportation officials announced they plan to barricade two railroad crossings near downtown Corvallis.

Oregon Department of Transportation’s Rail Division issued a proposed order to close the crossings at Seventh Street near Western Avenue and another at the south end of 11th Street due to visibility problems and a continued threat of an accident.

“Go out and look at those crossings. They speak for themselves,” said Charles Kettenring, manager of ODOT’s Rail Division. “Stop at the stop bar there and see how much opportunity you have to protect your life if a train were to come through.”

The order cites eight collisions at the Seventh Street crossing since 1967. At 11th Street, ODOT reports two collisions in 10 years and recommends traffic use the crossing at 15th Street, which has had two crashes with trains in seven years.

Casey Denson, owner of Denson Feed and Seed, fears the worst for his family’s store after 75 years.

“I’m going to fight it, obviously, because if they close Seventh Street, it’ll put me out of business,” he said.

A blockade would cut off access through 11th Street at the crossing completely and force traffic from Denson’s and nearby businesses to come from the north.

Denson said besides cutting down on substantial traffic passing through to Western Boulevard, delivery trucks would need to back down Seventh to access his building.

“You tell me what’s safer,” he said.

If closed, rail line owner Portland & Western Railroad would be required to install barricades that completely block the road and remove the roadway where it intersects the tracks. The city would be responsible for upkeep on the barrier.

Western Boulevard, a collector street and main thoroughfare from downtown to the west, would be unaffected by the closure.

State law grants ODOT the authority to close street-level railroad crossings when they are deemed unsafe, without a public process.

Kettenring said the city is responsible for collecting public comment and then presenting it in an appeal to an administrative law judge. Portland & Western also may appeal the order. Representatives of the company did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday and Wednesday.

City Manager Jon Nelson alerted city councilors to the proposed closure on Monday, which set a public discussion of the matter for its July 21 evening meeting.

“It’s going to change traffic patterns and may impact access in a big way,” Nelson said.

City staff is preparing up to 400 letters alerting nearby property owners of the proposed closure and suggesting they bring concerns to the council during the meeting.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.