Idling Trains Block Trail Access in Fitler Square
By James Young
The pedestrian railroad crossing at 25th and Locust Streets is a small yet vital piece of Fitler Square's infrastructure. As the only ground-level crossing in the neighborhood, it provides essential access to the Schuylkill River Trail for pedestrians, bikers, and dog-walkers.
However, CSX trains frequently park or idle on the tracks for hours at a time, blocking this access point and creating particular hardship for mobility-impaired residents.
The trail stretches over 120 miles from Philadelphia to Schuylkill County, with plans to extend it further to Frackville. When the crossing is blocked, neighborhood residents must seek alternative routes to the popular outdoor destination.
The railroad adjacent to the Schuylkill River is owned and operated by CSX, one of the largest rail companies in the country. As reported in the Fitler Focus last year, this is not the first time that Fitler Square residents have taken issue with CSX's practice of parking or idling trains on this section of the company's track. While other nearby railroad crossings exist, such as the Schuylkill River Park Connector Bridge, none offer the ground-level access that the Locust Street crossing provides.
City Seeks Solutions
Sharon Gallagher, a media representative for Philadelphia's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, stated that while the gates of the Locust Street crossing are managed and maintained by the City government, the crossing itself is under the purview of CSX. The City government does not track how frequently CSX trains block the crossing because all railroads in the state are managed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
Gallagher also shared that "City Council President Johnson has tried to reach out to CSX to mediate the matter." The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A media representative for CSX provided a statement regarding the frequently blocked crossing: "CSX makes every reasonable effort to ensure that trains occupy grade crossings for the shortest time possible. Sometimes, however, trains entering our busy Philadelphia rail yards, serving local customers or responding to certain operating conditions may require additional time to clear a crossing."
Cost-Cutting Complications
Previous reporting by the Fitler Focus revealed that CSX's practice of idling trains for extended periods on these tracks is often a cost-saving measure. By keeping trains running during crew changes, the company avoids legally required safety checks that would be necessary if the trains were shut off. CSX did not respond to questions about whether crew changes contribute to the blocking of the Locust Street crossing.
Earlier disputes between the City government and CSX motivated legal proceedings which resulted in the construction of elevated railroad crossings. However, resolving issues with ground-level crossings like the one at Locust Street would likely require the involvement of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in addition to CSX and the City government.
While the blockages continue, trail visitors must use alternative routes such as the Schuylkill River Park Connector Bridge, or the South Street and Walnut Street connectors. The nearest alternative ground-level crossing is at Race Street, though CSX trains frequently block this crossing as well.
Considering the sinkhole that has impeded access to the Schuylkill River Trail for months, the CSX trains blocking the Locust street passage is a real access impediment. If only the city and CSX could agree to a memorandum of understanding to at least not block passage during rush hour.
Get the required safety checks, which seem arbitrary and not needed, changed for these simple and regular stops.