Agenda - Council - 11/24/1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I TRUCKS AND RAILROAD CROSSINGS Trucks have been hauling dirt out of the Northfork Development for some time. The route the trucks take is over roads that are designed to carry the weight of loaded trucks. The presence of these trucks has caused scr..e concern over safety and possible damage to roads. To solve the problems, the City and the Northfork developers have been attempting to establish a railroad crossing near the Northfork Development clo~e to the westarn edge of Ramsey. The establishment of railroad crossings requires the approval of the Commissioner of Transportation; and the policy of the Department of Transportation is that if the railroad owner objects to the establishment of a railroad crossing, then an ad,~.inistrative law judge is asked to hear both sides and submit to the Commissioner of Transportation his findings. The Burlington Northern Railroad Company has held the position that it does not want any additional railroad crossings but would consider closing another crossing and opening a new crossing near the Northfork development. The closing of a railroad crossing follows somewhat the same procedure as opening a new crossing but the person or persons who must make the final judgment are the members of the Minnesota Transportation and Regulation Board (TRB). So, the Burlington Northern Railroad has petitioned the TRB to close the ?uma Street railroad crossing and the Administrative Law Judge has agreed to hear argument and receive testimony on the opening of a crossing near Northfork and the closing of the Puma Street crossing. These matters will be heard by Administrative Law Judge Richard DeLong on December 17 and 18, 1987 at 9:30 a.m. in Ramsey City Hall, 15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota. In addition to following the procedures to establish a new railroad crossing and possibly close an existing railroad crossing, the developers of Northfork are attempting to enter into an agreement with the Railroad to establish a private crossing near the Northfork Development until a permanent crossing can be established. Representatives from ~he Burlington ~orthern Railroad and Northfork believe that these agreements will be reached and the truck traffic may be routed onto Hwy. ~10 near the weigh station within the next two weeks.