Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety

Last Friday, Sheila Singer and her 2-year-old son were struck and killed while taking a shortcut across railroad tracks in Derry. Two of the 37-year-old mother's children who were with her watched in horror.

In July, a 15-year-old was killed at the same crossing. As the body count mounts, officials of the Westmoreland County community are justifiably concerned. Three accidental but avoidable deaths within several months are three too many -- and more than a borough of 2,900 should have to absorb.

But it isn't the fault of Norfolk Southern that Derry has seen a spike in railroad-track deaths. For generations, pedestrians have taken the shortest and most convenient route between the northern and southern parts of town by taking their chances crossing the tracks.

Since last week's tragedy, local police have stepped up their patrols of the crossing. They're writing citations for trespassing, which carry a fine of up to $300, but they can't get everyone. When the police move on to deal with real law enforcement, the flow of foot traffic across the tracks resumes.

A taxi or shuttle service has been suggested as one solution, but that's impractical. Derry needs an overhead walkway. The people traffic across the tracks justifies it, but the expense -- up to $1 million -- strikes fear of a tax increase in some residents.

It is hard to imagine that state and federal money would not be available to cover a large part of the cost. This should be a top priority for lawmakers like U.S. Rep. John Murtha, state Sen. Kim Ward and state Rep. Joseph Petrarca.

Such aid plus local dollars could address this community safety problem of the first degree.

Police officers should be deployed elsewhere in the borough, not in patrol cars parked at the crossing, and $300 citations are the last thing needed by Derry residents of modest means.

It's time for the borough to start planning its way out of this hazard. And if public money has to be spent, what can be a better use for it than keeping mothers and children safe?

  

Posted Nov 04 2009, 05:00 AM by Susan Mannella

Comments

kevin morris wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Wed, Nov 4 2009 7:15 AM

I'm sure Murtha can get the funding, assuming such a bridge can be built by military contractors.

myreply wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Wed, Nov 4 2009 7:16 AM

And there will still be those that will walk under the "overhead walkway" because they will want a "shorter and more convenient route".  

While I am sorry that this mother and child lost their lives, it was the fault of the mother - she knew that she was not to use this area, and lost her life and that of her child to "save" a few minutes.

GBRetired wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Wed, Nov 4 2009 4:00 PM

While I completely support both positions here, why has there not been a fence erected to eliminate possible access to this crossing? Removal of dedicated police protection would quickly offset the expense and thus force use of a safer crossing means.

While it is easy to blame the family members for this trsgedy, the lack of basic safety precautions by the local governing bodies must also be scrutinized.

brooklineusa wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Wed, Nov 4 2009 4:47 PM

Are you for real? How the heck do you not see a freaking train. It is real simple, look both ways before you cross train tracks. I can't believe there is an editorial written about this, and that there is serious talk about building a $1m walkway. Where is personal responsibility? It embarasses me that there is even a discussion about this. If you are stupid enough to cross the tracks without looking, then....?

swaybar wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Thu, Nov 5 2009 3:30 PM

And ignoring several shouts from a nearby police officer was not a wise thing for the poor mother to do either.

swaybar wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 11:39 AM

If you ever drive through Wilkinsburg on Penn Ave. (and one or two other streets) you will pass under the tracks.  This is because at one time trains passed right through the heart of the current business district and there were many fatalities until they raised the tracks.  One doesn't have to be stupid, just careless, hasty, distracted or who knows what.  If the crossing is used so much why can't ehy go under it with a tunnel which shouldn't be as expensive as a bridge.  This can also be seen in Wilkinsburg.

thescarletpumpernickel wrote re: Derry's tragedy: There's no higher use for public dollars than safety
on Fri, Nov 6 2009 1:24 PM

brooklineusa -

Of course it is unwise to go near railroad tracks. A diesal train can "coast" along almost silently.

If that was the case, and this poor woman was distracted, well, ...