Kudos to Mayor Taylor for Focusing on Amherst Railroad Overpasses
October 3, 2010
During my first term on Amherst City Council, I’ve received several complaints from residents about dangerous railroad overpasses in the city that are badly in need of repairs. You’ve probably noticed that our five overpasses are rusty, the concrete is crumbling, and they need to be painted. It’s simply not a safe situation for our families.
Recently, Senator Sherrod Brown wrote a letter to railroad company CXS requesting that they do something about the railroad overpasses in need of repair in the City of Lorain. I contacted Amherst Mayor David Taylor and mentioned to him that it would be a good idea to remind Senator Brown that Amherst’s overpasses are also badly in need of attention.
For several years, Mayor Taylor has been diligently trying to get Norfolk Southern to repair the five damaged railroad overpasses in Amherst. Norfolk Southern has always responded with “we only have funds for safety, not cosmetics.” The Mayor and I, however, are both concerned the structural integrity of the overpasses do pose a safety hazard to Amherst residents (in addition to them being eyesores).
On September 22, Mayor Taylor sent a letter to Senator Brown requesting his assistance in the matter. Additionally, he sent another letter to Norfolk Southern requesting that they repair the dangerous overpasses in Amherst. I’m sure that he will continue to push this issue until the overpasses have been repaired.
I’d like to personally thank Mayor Taylor for his attention to this matter, even though it has taken so long for Norfolk Southern to acknowledge that the overpasses pose a danger to Amherst residents. I appreciate the fact that he consistently thinks about the safety of and beautification of our city.
What do you think about the situation with the railroad overpasses in Amherst? Please drop me a line using my contact page if you have any comments or suggestions for me.