Viaduct will close crossing

By Don Bowen/Tribune Staff

Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007 - 11:55:18 am CST

A Linden Avenue railroad crossing could become one of Fremont’s most important and painful compromises.

At a study session of the Fremont City Council Tuesday night, council member Bob Warner questioned city staff about the future of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway at-grade crossing on Linden Avenue on the west side of town.

The future of the railroad crossing will be affected directly by a Jan. 15 vote for a new viaduct over those railroad tracks on West 23rd Street near Somers Avenue and Airport Road, said city administrator Bob Hartwig. The viaduct would also go over Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad tracks, which run parallel with the BNSF tracks there.

Fremont Department of Public Works director Clark Boschult said federal and state funding for the viaduct would require that all at-grade crossings within a certain distance of the viaduct be closed. Boschult said this morning that it would affect the Linden Avenue crossing, but not a BNSF crossing at Military Avenue.

The crossing at Linden Avenue provides an access to the Davenport residential subdivision, Ridge Cemetery, the Gen. John C. Fremont Army Reserves Center and Christensen Field. However, those areas can also be reached from West 23rd Street and Military Avenue.

Hartwig said Fremonters wouldn’t lose everything at the Linden Avenue crossing. The city’s trail system that runs through there would be maintained with a pedestrian walkway, most likely over the railroad tracks.

Hartwig said there is some discussion about whether the pedestrian walkway would run over or underneath the tracks.

“I’d rather see it over because the water table here is so high,” he said.

Boschult has said it will take about two years after the vote before construction of the viaduct could begin. It will take about one year to design the viaduct and another year to acquire the necessary rights of way. When the city has most of the rights of way secured, staff can bid the project.

The viaduct would cost about $9 million with the city responsible for about $3 million. Funds are available in the street department’s budget. The remaining funds will come from state and federal sources.

Hartwig has said that taxes will not be affected by the vote, which is required by state law to authorize the viaduct over railroad tracks.

Support for the viaduct developed from lengthy delays at the three crossings throughout the years. Delays also affect emergency assistance to areas west of the tracks from police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

In another matter, council members heard the second reading of an ordinance to rezone a 6-acre site just south of U.S. Highway 30 on County Road 26 from agriculture district to rural residential district.

The ordinance is scheduled for a final reading at the council’s Nov. 27 meeting, when it would be considered by vote of council members.

Peace Lutheran Church is in the process of acquiring the land.

The 6-acre tract is currently attached to 80 acres of farm land owned by Lee Seemann.

Boschult said the rezoning is necessary because the minimum lot size for agriculture district is 20 acres.

Peace Lutheran Church, a three-year-old congregation of about 115 members, meets each week at Calvary United Methodist Church, 2438 E. 12th St., after the Methodist church’s services.

All posts are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Email Address Required

Fremont Resident

Nov 14, 2007 12:18 PM

I've lived in the Davenport residential area for 18 years, and I must say that closing the Linden Ave crossing is a very inconvenient consequence of the proposed viaduct. I would rather continue to deal with the traffic issues as they are (negligible) rather than be inconvenienced by having to travel out of my way in one direction or the other simply to go to my own home. While discussing the closing of the Linden Ave crossing, what can be said of the crossing that is actually closer to the proposed Viaduct, just north of the intersection of 23rd and Somers? The article above says that all at-grade within a certain distance must be closed, so why is that one not included? I don't mean to insinuate anything, but I believe this is the money in Fremont speaking. Where the city is willing to inconvenience those at the Linden crossing, it seems they will overlook that crossing which leads directly to the Golf Club. In another one of the Tribune's articles on this matter, a comment was made that rather than spending this money on a viaduct that it could be put toward fixing roads that are in need of repair here in Fremont. I would have to agree that this is a better use for Fremont's budget if they insist on spending money. You can be certain that I will be voting against the viaduct's construction and will encourage others to do the same.

buckmaster

Nov 14, 2007 1:18 PM

I guess I would like to get a clarification on why Linden has to be closed. The Broad St viaduct is .42 Miles from the M Street crossing and only .14 miles from the Main St crossing. Why aren't these two streets closed? Linden to 23rd Street is .64 miles and they're closing it? That's what I don't understand.

On the West Side

Nov 14, 2007 1:46 PM

Fremont Resident: I think that the time presently spent waiting for stalled trains to move far outweighs the time we will spend driving a teeny bit out of the way to take the overpass over the tracks or Military Avenue. Having an overpass is way worth it to me and I will encourage others to vote FOR the overpass.

JODI

Nov 14, 2007 2:04 PM

THIS IS CRAZY, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU CLOSE LINDEN AVE CROSSING DOWN TO TRAFFIC? THE DAVENPORT DISTRICT CHILDREN NOW ALL ATTEND LINDEN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE DAVENORT SCHOOL CLOSING YEARS AGO. PARENTS DO NOT LET THERE CHILDREN WALK ANY LONGER BECAUSE OF THE ABDUCTIONS AND COLD WEATHER AND THE SCHOOL IS ONLY 2 BLOCKS FROM THIS CROSSING NOW. THIS WOULD MEAN ALL TRAFFIC FROM THE DAVENPORT AREA WOULD HAVE TO GO UP TO 23RD OR DOWN TO MILITARY TO CROSS AND THEN COME BACK TO LINDEN ON EITHER SIDE TO GO FROM ONE SIDE OF THE TRACKS TO ANOTHER. WITH THE COST OF GASOLINE NOW A DAYS WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU CLOSE THIS CROSSING. I COULD SEE CLOSING THE CROSSING IF WORK WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE TO HAVE IT KEPT IN PLACE BUT IT IS ALREADY ALL SET UP, SO NO WORK SHOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT THIS LOACTION. ALSO IF THIS HAS TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF DISTANCE OF THE VIADUCT THEN THE SOMMERS CROSSING BY THE COUNTRY CLUB WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE CLOSED, AM I NOT CORRECT? OH I FORGOT, THE RICH PEOPLE OF FREMONT USE THE COUNTRY CLUB SO WE KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

Filthy Rich Fremonter

Nov 14, 2007 2:05 PM

My Golf Club in way more important then you poor little people who live in Davenport. Buy your own council. This council belongs to me!

No concept

Nov 14, 2007 2:08 PM

It is too bad the city council is blackmailed into closing Linden. With this closing the Linden traffice will be diverted to Military and 23rd street which already is hard to get on to. After events at Christiansen complex the added traffic will cause safety concerns from impatient drivers. More traffic will drive through Washington Heights also to get out of that area.

Nov 14, 2007 2:15 PM

Buckmaster, there was a viaduct on Broad Street long before these rules about closing crossings were around. Fremont Resident, the Somers Street crossing is closing too.

LINDEN CROSSING

Nov 14, 2007 2:28 PM

Hey folks, it's the linden street crossing here. I wanted you all to know that I'm willing to sacrafice myself for the safety and well being of Fremont residents, no matter how dumb they are. A two minute or less "inconvenience" for someones drive home is not as important as the firetrucks getting through, or someone driving their wife to the hospital. Stop being so selfish people. I'm the Linden Street Crossing and I approve this message.

Rich Rich

Nov 14, 2007 3:03 PM

My oh my… Ok first of all I own a home in country club estates in the Washington Heights area and I by no means would be considered rich. If you look at this issue by looking at a map you would see that those of you who live in the Linden area have more than three ways in and out of your development, unlike my fellow residents of Washington Heights. If a train blocks our entrance we currently must go to the bypass to get to the “Country Club” FACT. So we already have to deal with driving a little out of our way to get home. By the way I pay more in taxes so my vote counts more! ;)

FREMONTER

Nov 14, 2007 3:24 PM

I believe the advantages totally outweight the disadvantages for building the viaduct. Even if it means closing the Linden crossing. Some people need to stop whining and look at all the positive things this will bring.

Uncle Buck

Nov 14, 2007 3:28 PM

Closing the road that leads to the golf course would not bother me at all since I drive down hwy 77 to go golfing. It's allot quicker since there is usually a train blocking the entrance down there Oh wait that’s what we are going to be voting on Jan 15th a bypass so we don’t have traffic backed up to the Nye street intersection.

Fremont Resident

Nov 14, 2007 3:35 PM

A, if that is in fact the case, thank you for clarifying. Seeing as I am not presently in Fremont, I have not been able to attend any meetings in order to find out the specific details that are not included in this article by the Tribune. Filthy Rich Fremonter and LINDEN CROSSING, somehow I am not surprised at these comments. I hope that others who read this article will look at your text and realize how immature such actions are and how they perpetuate the ill-relations that often form between the classes. They sidetrack the purpose of this article which is to provide information about a change that will affect many of us who will live in Fremont. A's response on the other hand is composed, providing information that I questioned. Linden Crossing, if you wish to speak about the Emergency Staff, then please let us find data that notes the occurrences in which those Emergency Staff have been blocked by train crossings rather than blindly throwing out unsubstantiated claims.

Carol

Nov 14, 2007 4:13 PM

I am not against the viaduct. I am against them closing Linden. I live near Linden and use it often. My concern is the street people will use to get to these other streets. They use Pierce. Many people drive to fast for the area, there are many children in this area and then you add speeding cars, it is a accident waiting to happen. If Linden closes I would like to see speed bumps put on Pierce to slow some of these cars down. We already have to many trunks going down our street.

1uk

Nov 14, 2007 4:42 PM

I live and own a home in the Washington heights area as well and just the other day I was on my way home and I had to wait for a train (By the way the last car was 20 foot from the crossing but that is different subject) after waiting 10 minutes I decided to turn around and drive to the bypass so I turned around and drove all the way back down 23rd St. to hwy 77 bypass to Judy road then past sunset sub division then as I drove down summers I see the train is now moving and by the time I got to the Washington heights entrance the train had cleared the tracks and now I had to wait in line to turn in to Washington heights. I’m sorry if you have to drive 2 blocks out of your way MRS Linden resident.

fremont's troubles are over

Nov 14, 2007 5:12 PM

please explain to me as well, the people living in davenport have military and linden to access town. how will they be able to access the viaduct? with the airport in the way, i see no easy way to get to airport road, without taking away the airport parking lot?

Washington Heights

Nov 15, 2007 10:19 AM

I am a resident of Country Club Estates. I have done my share of driving way out of my way for trains, but it really doesn't bother me. I do think that a viaduct would be nice, especially for emergency workers. If any of you had a family member that needed an ambulance and it was delayed because of a train stopped on the tracks, you would also support the viaduct. If someone is in cardiac arrest every SECOND counts. However, it makes absolutely no sense to me why they would close other streets? Who makes these rules? I would like to know a good reason, not just because it is a rule. By the way, I am also far from rich.

whatever

Nov 15, 2007 12:14 PM

3 million to fund this and no change in taxes. People wake up and smell the coffee you have to vote Jan 15th so mark your calendars and remind your neighbors. I was told too this could drop our house values too -Hello!! So they say: 1 no increase in tax 2 houses worth same not demmed lower 3 they have to close Linden for the money for the project - a condion! Well I for one am not ignorant to how the politcs work here and I am certainly not a good old boy so trust me we will pay and dearly!!!! Vote no!!!!! Remember you can't complain unless you vote and you can't reverse this once it's through but you better read between the lines and really what is the advantage to this? Person's on the east side will seldom use it so why would they care and west side it makes emergency crossing easier. Oh for gosh sakes it's been this way for decades nothing has changed leave us alone and go away! Remember when you come to Christensen for the big craft shows or swap meets Linden could be a no no next year!!And the price of gas who wants to drive around! Merry Christmas to those who sleep good at night!!

Fremonter

Nov 15, 2007 1:01 PM

I think the viaduct is a great idea. Our town is so small anyway what is a less that two minute detour going to do to your commute. The Linden crossing is going to stay open to pedestrians so your spoiled childred may have to learn to walk to school like my children and I had to do. If your fears of child obduction are that intense then you obviously will not mind driving down airport road to get them to school. I personnaly do not care what the statistics are for emergancy vehicles being detained by a train are, if there is even a POSSIBILITY that emergancy services will be held up by a train then the viaduct is a neccesity. Imagine one of your childred being hit by a car and the ambulance has to sit 20 to 30 minutes just to get to your subdivision. Even if that only happens .00001% of the time the viaduct is still worth its weight in gold if it will help save a life.

Jeff

Nov 15, 2007 2:43 PM

This has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Why on earth is it necessary to close one maybe three railroad crossings in order to build an overpass? It’s almost like we must maintain a certain amount of inconvenience. We sure have some dim people in charge of our city.

Mike

Nov 15, 2007 4:00 PM

Those of you who don't live in the area of Linden can't comment on taking a "2 minute" detour as you all keep saying. It is going to be much longer than 2 minutes. Military can be very difficult to get on to depending on Traffic and in order to cross at 23rd street with this new viaduct, you will have to backtrack to Nye then up to 23rd street and then to cross. Also, how are they going to make the new Viaduct accessable to the people that live in the Davenport area, are they going to have to drive all the way out to the bypass and around. That is very wasteful! Nobody has addressed that concern, or at least they haven't at the meetings that I have been to. They need to have an open discussion for the public to attend that focuses DIRECTLY on this issue and they need to show the proposed plans so people know what they are voting on. Until they do that, I will vote NO and so will most of the people that I know. Anybody who votes yes before really knowing what they are voting on is an idiot!

Jake

Nov 15, 2007 4:04 PM

i read before that they would close the crossings so that the railroad would help pay for the viaduct, so they wouldnt have to pay insurance on 3 crossings anymore, now they're saying they have to be closed because they're too close to a viaduct, which is it, really??

Fremont Resident

Nov 15, 2007 5:16 PM

Fremonter, in all of my years I have never had to wait 20-30 minutes for a train. The very longest I've ever been delayed is 10 minutes and that is rare in and of itself. As well, I don't think it's fair to consider it 'spoiled' that children are given a ride to school, especially in the winter season. Carol also raises an interesting side effect of the street change that should probably be addressed either with speed bumps as she has suggested or possibly stepped-up patrolling in that area to discourage speeders. I can definitely attest to having see people speed through that area. Jeff, props on making me laugh. I like the comment about maintaining inconvenience.

Viaduct will close crossing

Leave a Comment

Blogs

Calendar of Events

Photos

September 2008
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30