(The Herald posted the following story by Tawnya Panizzi on its website on February 7.)
O’HARA, Pa. — A hearing March 4 will determine whether the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing at Riverfront Drive will remain barricaded.
Township officials filed a petition with the state Public Utilities Commission asking them to rule on a dispute over whether the crossing is a public access or a privately-owned tract of land.
The long-awaited hearing might resolve the dispute which arose after Norfolk Southern officials blocked the crossing in December. That surprised and angered more than 80 township residents who use the access to enter the riverfront housing development, Residence of the Docks.
Railroad officials contend that the crossing is a private one that was closed because of the impending increase in traffic expected when the housing development is complete. Continental Communities, the developer of Residence of the Docks, expects more than 1,000 residents when the 398-unit complex is finished.
Railroad spokesman Rudy Husband said traffic flow will increase by about 700 percent, causing a significant increase in the risk of collisions.
The closing leaves only one access road to the riverfront, where the Fox Chapel Yacht Club, a spa and marina are located. Township officials contend that such limited access is dangerous since it forces motorists to use the crossing at Fairview Road, which dumps traffic onto Old Freeport Road and creates a three-way merging point with cars from Route 28.
Husband said it is possible that a resolution could be reached before the township’s March 4 hearing date.
“There have been discussions between the township, Blawnox, Norfolk Southern and the developer about alternatives,” he said.
Husband declined to list the alternatives. He also said there was no time frame for negotiations.
“There are no scheduled talks,” he said.
Mabon Lichtenfels, regional project manager for Continental Communities, could not be reached for comment. He did not return phone messages left at his office.
Continental Communities has approached railroad officials in the past about upgrading the crossing. They committed $140,000 for lights and signals there. But Husband said he would prefer to see other means of renovations, possibly a tunnel beneath the railroad tracks. Gates and signals would not be enough to guarantee safety for motorists, he said.
Barring a last-minute compromise, a PUC judge is set to hear the case at 10 a.m. on March 4 in the state office building in downtown Pittsburgh.