Editor’s note: The project has been postponed until May 17–19. Read our updated reporting: Mayors Will Meet on CSX Concerns, Rail Crossings
CLOSTER, N.J.—That rough-on-your-ride railroad crossing on Old Hook Road in Closter should be getting a much-needed fix, in a project expected to impact traffic, Closter Mayor John Glidden confirmed to Northern Valley Press last week.
“I get four or five calls a day” about the bad condition of the railroad crossing, Glidden said. “People go over it, and a lot of them, it really damages the bottom of their cars.”
The crossing, owned by CSX Corp., is expected to be shut down for three days—Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, May 11 to 13—for a complete overhaul, Glidden said.
Closter Police Department will coordinate detours through Harrington Park, said Glidden.
In his recent mayor’s update, Glidden said the local politicians and law enforcement “have been trying to get CSX Railroad to make the repairs of the deplorable condition of the intersection for an infinitely long time.”
They even took the step of having Inspector August Greiner from the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration inspect the intersection, Glidden said.
An FRA spokesperson confirmed it is aware of the situation and has been working with local and state officials and railroad representatives to address it. The New Jersey Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the issue, the spokesperson said.
“After an initial inspection to assess track conditions, an FRA grade crossing inspector visited the site and confirmed there is a rough highway-rail grade crossing concrete surface problem,” said the spokesperson. “FRA’s grade crossing inspector met with local officials and committed to work with them, CSX and the New Jersey Department of Transportation to ensure the deteriorated surface conditions are temporarily patched until a more permanent fix can be completed.”
A spokesperson for CSX on Tuesday, April 30 acknowledged two rounds of questioning by Northern Valley Press over two weeks, stating the organization would address the newspaper’s queries “tomorrow,” but then did not reply further.
Northern Valley Press also asked CSX to address a complaint from a local reader from Harrington Park concerned about debris, construction materials and overgrown weeds littering the tracks.
“[CSX does] not respond to town requests for cleanup of the tracks and the towns are not permitted to go on the property to clean it up,” the local volunteer wrote to Northern Valley Press. “It is a huge industry coming through our beautiful towns and creating a huge eyesore.”
CSX was asked to address this and provide any update regarding maintenance or improvements along the tracks, but did not reply to questions.
“CSX Corp., together with its subsidiaries based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation’s leading transportation suppliers,” the company writes on its website. “The company’s rail and intermodal businesses provide rail-based transportation services including traditional rail service and the transport of intermodal containers and trailers.”
Local officials and emergency responders have for years also expressed concerns regarding the transparency, rate and frequency of volatile materials being shipped on the local tracks—which traverse Northvale, Norwood, Harrington Park, Closter, Haworth, and other Bergen County communities as part of a major interstate shipping corridor.
CSX occasionally holds training for emergency responders who would be tasked with responding to any accident on the tracks.
The company reported 31 percent growth on earnings per share ($1.02 versus $0.78 in 2018) in its 2019 first quarter, with revenue at $3.01 billion.
