(The following story by Larry Higgs appeared on the Asbury Park Press website on January 26.)
RED BANK, N.J. — NJ Transit police are cracking down with their ticket books on people who cross the tracks in front of stopped trains following several crossing incidents that resulted in fatalities.
NJ Transit police have cited riders, including many on the North Jersey Coast Line, which was the location of four pedestrian fatalities last November. On July 14, a 16-year-old Belmar girl was injured when she was hit by a northbound train after she had gotten off a southbound train in Belmar. Two other girls were brushed by the same train.
From January 2006 through Wednesday, NJ Transit Police issued 51 tickets to people crossing tracks in front of a train while crossing gates were down, said Dan Stessel, NJ Transit spokesman. The statutory fine for pleading guilty to the offense is $54, he said.
“NJ Transit police have stepped up enforcement over the past year in the wake of tragic incidents, including two on the Coast Line where individuals violating crossings were struck by trains,” Stessel said.
Commuter Nicole Cirillo, 25, of Red Bank was one of several riders who received a summons at Red Bank station Jan. 16. While NJ Transit police verbally warned some groups of people crossing in front of a southbound train stopped in the station, her group was issued summonses and had their driver’s licenses checked, she said Thursday.
“We thought they were giving us a warning, and they gave all of us tickets,” said Cirillo, who has ridden the train to her job in New York for 2 1/2 years. “Not one person who rides the train knows this is a violation. If they’re concerned about safety, warn us first.”
Cirillo was cited at the Chestnut Street railroad crossing, where the nose of the stopped train sticks out into the street and people cross in the road around the gates. The crossing is protected by warning lights and gates. However, a sign warning riders not to cross the tracks is mounted on a fence between tracks and is obscured by a southbound train, she said.
“We’ve had incidents in the past year where individuals were struck by trains crossing in front or behind the train,” Stessel said. “It’s all part of an effort to reinforce the importance of obeying crossing gates.”
After the Belmar incident, NJ Transit embarked on a $3 million safety upgrade program at 33 train stations where passengers could be in danger of being struck by a train coming from the other direction.
As part of that program, NJ Transit installed fencing between tracks and signs warning riders not to cross tracks when gates are down and warning lights are flashing.
Stessel said transit police are citing passengers for pedestrian violations under the state’s title 39 statutes, which govern motor vehicles and traffic. Local police also can cite violators, he said.
In Red Bank, those tickets have been issued by NJ Transit police, said Lt. Stephen McCarthy, borough police spokesman. Red Bank Court Administrator Carol Dowlen said NJ Transit police have started writing those summonses in the borough this year. The tickets are adjudicated in municipal court.
Cirillo said she’d have to take a day off from work to contest the summons.
“I guess they decided to pick one day to make an example of us,” she said. “This is asinine. They were not very understanding — warn us first.”
After the Belmar accident in July, NJ Transit officials beefed up safety measures, starting at 14 Coast Line stations.
Passengers have been informed by notices placed on train seats and safety advisories in NJ Transit’s periodic commuter newsletter, “FYI,” Stessel said. Announcements also are made onboard trains.
Commuter Nicole Cirillo, 25, of Red Bank was one of several riders who received a summons at Red Bank station Jan. 16. While NJ Transit police verbally warned some groups of people crossing in front of a southbound train stopped in the station, her group was issued summonses and had their driver’s licenses checked, she said Thursday.
“We thought they were giving us a warning, and they gave all of us tickets,” said Cirillo, who has ridden the train to her job in New York for 2 1/2 years. “Not one person who rides the train knows this is a violation. If they’re concerned about safety, warn us first.”
Cirillo was cited at the Chestnut Street railroad crossing, where the nose of the stopped train sticks out into the street and people cross in the road around the gates. The crossing is protected by warning lights and gates. However, a sign warning riders not to cross the tracks is mounted on a fence between tracks and is obscured by a southbound train, she said.
“We’ve had incidents in the past year where individuals were struck by trains crossing in front or behind the train,” Stessel said. “It’s all part of an effort to reinforce the importance of obeying crossing gates.”
After the Belmar incident, NJ Transit embarked on a $3 million safety upgrade program at 33 train stations where passengers could be in danger of being struck by a train coming from the other direction.
As part of that program, NJ Transit installed fencing between tracks and signs warning riders not to cross tracks when gates are down and warning lights are flashing.
Stessel said transit police are citing passengers for pedestrian violations under the state’s title 39 statutes, which govern motor vehicles and traffic. Local police also can cite violators, he said.
In Red Bank, those tickets have been issued by NJ Transit police, said Lt. Stephen McCarthy, borough police spokesman. Red Bank Court Administrator Carol Dowlen said NJ Transit police have started writing those summonses in the borough this year. The tickets are adjudicated in municipal court.
Cirillo said she’d have to take a day off from work to contest the summons.
“I guess they decided to pick one day to make an example of us,” she said. “This is asinine. They were not very understanding — warn us first.”
After the Belmar accident in July, NJ Transit officials beefed up safety measures, starting at 14 Coast Line stations.
Passengers have been informed by notices placed on train seats and safety advisories in NJ Transit’s periodic commuter newsletter, “FYI,” Stessel said. Announcements also are made onboard trains.