Project closes 41 train crossings

By Richard Payne
Staff Writer

Lafayette’s longest public works project is almost over.

After 30 years of study and action, Lafayette’s Railroad Relocation project watched on Friday as the last train to ever travel down the tracks of the city passed by a crowd of citizens at Market Square Shopping Center.

On hand for the event were Mayor Dave Heath and former mayor John Riehle. Also in attendance were Rep. Brian Kerns R-7th and former U.S. Representatives Ed Pease and John Meyers.

"We’ve been waiting for this day for a long, long time," said Riehle.

The last train, which was a three-car passenger train provided by Norfolk Southern, stopped briefly at Sixth Street, Ninth Street and Ferry Street celebrating the close of the final 20 crossings. The last freight train ran on March 11.

The project closed 41 crossings in Lafayette, which relocated the tracks for CSX, Norfolk Southern and Amtrak to the corridor of the Wabash River.

At each stop, Heath spoke briefly to the crowds assembled.

"We finally did it, the trains are relocated," said Heath at the Sixth Street stop.

According to Heath, the project was supposed to take four more years under a transportation bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. But through joint efforts by the city, Norfolk Southern and the State of Indiana, $9.6 million dollars were advanced by Norfolk to the project, which will later be paid off by federal funds.

"The ending is bittersweet, but (this project) will save lives," said Kerns, whose wife, Lori, was almost hit by a train in Lafayette.

Hundreds of citizens attended the final ceremony at Market Square.

"The public has always supported this," said Heath.

The bipartisan efforts that brought the project to reality were highlighted during speeches given at the celebration.

Following the crossing of the train over Greenbush Street for the last time, everyone was invited across the shopping center for refreshments and dancing and to view an exhibit set up to review the history of the project.

Two of the several structures built by the project are the John T. Meyers Pedestrian Bridge and the James F. Riehle Plaza to which it is connected.

The project is not over. Through December 2002, the final of 16 construction contracts will be completed. The last contract will remove the old Norfolk Southern tracks from the city and build new sewers and roads in their place.

Project closes 41 train crossings

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City editor:
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