Palmer City Council approves contract to address pedestrian, vehicle safety at rail crossings

Public safety in regards to deteriorating railroad tracks has been at the heart of public concern for several months, with citizens voicing concerns about the state of several tracks and the safety issues, specifically on East Fireweed Ave between South Colony Way and South Valley Way.

During the April 22 Palmer City Council meeting, the council heard testimony regarding an action memorandum that would allow the new city manager to negotiate and enter into a contract with East Fork Construction LLC, which will allow the Fireweed Ave and Colony Way Intersection Improvements Project to begin. The city is directing that the railroad crossing will be fixed, as well as replacing the sidewalks, ramps, and curbs along this section of Fireweed Ave.

Currently, the named sidewalk crossings are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and significantly interfere with some of Palmer's most vulnerable citizens -- residents of the Pioneer and Veteran's Home. The crossings also impact vehicles and cyclists using the crossings.

The issue of pedestrian and vehicle safety at these specific intersections has been brought up in the past. Last May, during a regular Palmer City Council meeting, resident Chuck Hickman told the council that the tracks were in “very bad condition,” specifically at Fireweed and Evergreen, two popular intersections in the city.

“I don’t know about you, but when I drive over these tracks, even as slow as I can, (it) is quite a jarring experience. Is there any way something can be done about these tracks?” He noted the history and heritage of the railroad tracks, but warned that somebody is going to get hurt walking, bicycling or driving across the tracks.

Hickman reminded the council that there was a vote for a permit to take action on the railroad tracks with two years left on the permit. There had been a vote to either tear up the track, repair the grounds or repair the tracks, though he said that the Mat-Su Borough mayor had cancelled that vote.

At the time, several council members voiced support to come up with a plan for addressing the railroad tracks.

Fast forward to this year, when residents again spoke to the need to address the safety and compliance of the tracks, which are not in use by the Alaska Railroad.

“This section of track has been out of service since 2008 and the crossing is in total disrepair. Because of the poor condition, numerous City of Palmer vehicles have sustained significant damage while crossing the tracks. The road grade will be lowered and the out-of-service railroad track crossing on Fireweed Avenue will be removed as part of this project,” Mayor Steve Carrington wrote in his Mayor’s report, addressing the Action Memorandum.

During audience participation at the April 22 meeting, held at the Palmer Depot, Herb Bischoff said he was thankful the council recognized the importance of the safety of the Palmer streets, saying that he has raised concerns in the past with the council and Alaska Railroad “I think that removing the troublesome section of tracks is probably the best step.”

Other residents said that while repairs are needed, they want to keep the railroad tracks, saying they represents an integral part of Palmer’s history dating back to the first group of settlers.

“To me, the railroad tracks are historical Does the city of Palmer not have a historical society? Why would we want to remove them?” asked Debbie Weatherhorn. “I’m all for fixing them. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m all for fixing them. But can’t we fix them without removing them? In 1935, the colonists established Palmer. How can we remove the railroad tracks?”

Amanda Graham suggested a compromise, to remove the tracks and make recommended repairs, but honor the railroads history in a more unique manner.

“I think that there are a lot of other options where we can honor Palmer’s railroad-centric past while also making everything safe,” she said. “I would like to suggest, especially with the library going in, is if and when we pull those rails that we save them somewhere and maybe commission an artist to make something out of them, either at the library or here (at the Palmer Depot), where everybody can look at them, learn a little about the history of Palmer while maintaining its pedestrian friendly downtown.”

The action memorandum was unanimously approved by the council.