(The following editorial appeared on the Daily News website on June 12.)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The general consensus among local and state leaders and many citizens is that CSX needs to address the shabby appearance of its railroad bridge over Barren River near Louisville Road.
We agree and the sooner this problem is addressed the better.
Officials of CSX, an international freight transportation company heavily into rail transportation, say the bridge is structurally sound. There is no reason to doubt this, but the rust and peeling paint on the structure is quite obvious.
At a time when the city, state and federal governments are committed to spending millions of dollars on downtown redevelopment efforts, this bridge detracts from the nearby Riverwalk, which has become a point of pride for our city.
Even worse, the bridge is within a few yards of Louisville Road, a major artery into our city, and Beech Bend Road, on which thousands of visitors a year travel on their way to the amusement park and racetrack.
This is why it is disturbing that CSX is so reluctant to do anything about it.
Kimberly Skorniak, a spokeswoman for CSX, says company policy states that bridges must be kept structurally sound and that the company doesn’t paint bridges for aesthetic reasons.
“We have no plans to paint the bridge at this time,” Skorniak said.
Skorniak said if CSX painted one bridge, it would have 100 other communities wanting bridges painted. It is doubtful, however, that most of those bridges are located in areas undergoing intense revitilization.
She said in some cases CSX has offered to work with cities in dealing with bridges that need exterior work. But when asked what CSX would be willing to do with our city, Skorniak said the company would be willing to talk to city officials, but refused further comment.
This isn’t an issue that just sprung up overnight.
For years, local and state leaders have tried to get CSX to repaint the bridge, but to no avail.
Speaker of the House Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, said that he believes CSX has essentially been stonewalling.
“I’ve been interested in this for years,” Richards said. “I’ve never gotten any real satisfaction from them at all on this issue. They have told me that they don’t paint bridges for cosmetic purposes.”
Richards said that he has talked to CSX officials recently about the bridge, but hasn’t received a response.
Former Bowling Green Mayor Johnny Webb, who was mayor from 1992-1996, said the city approached CSX in 1993 and was told that it replaces bridges and doesn’t paint them because it doesn’t add life to the bridges.
“They were just very reluctant to do anything,” Webb said. “I think if we had enough people approaching the right people at CSX we could get something done.”
Whatever reasons CSX has for not addressing longstanding concerns in the community, it is not related to financial resources.
According to CSX’s income statement for 2004, the railroad had a net income of $339 million.
Sure, this project would cost some money, but a company this large and profitable should simply consider it as the cost of being a good neighbor to a community it serves.
Another issue that CSX should consider is that if the paint peeling off the bridge into the river below happens to be lead based, it could be an environmental issue.
When Skorniak was asked about the possible environmental concerns, she refused to comment.
Mayor Elaine Walker said with the amount of money being spent on the riverfront, it is important to have the bridge repaired.
Walker said she intends to send a letter to CSX in an effort to see if something can be done.
“We hope to come to an agreement on it,” Walker said.
One would think that a wealthy, huge corporation such as CSX would want to be a good corporate citizen in areas that it operates.
But its lack of action over the years leaves us wondering if it truly cares about its image.
We sincerely hope that CSX demonstrates it is the kind of neighbor that will maintain its property to the standards planned and already accomplished in the immediate area.