Updates to McGregor railroad crossing are planned
The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking to update McGregor’s railroad crossing at the foot of Main Street with lights and arms. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Acting on a request that city officials say was submitted several years ago or more, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking to update McGregor’s railroad crossing at the foot of Main Street with lights and arms.
“That is a really congested area for us, and they are suggesting we do some sort of partnership with them to make some infrastructure enhancements,” said McGregor Economic Development Lead Brandi Crozier, who was part of recent meetings with DOT and railroad officials. A representative from the marina has also been involved, along with Iowa State University professor Julia Badenhope, who is working with the city through the Mending/Bridging project to enhance connections in Marquette and McGregor.
Badenhope said the project, which would be fully funded through the Federal Highway Administration, would include erecting crossing gates—and lights—that will block traffic when a train is approaching. This would limit the potential for collisions at the busy spot where both motorists and pedestrians cross to reach the boat launch, Riverfront Park and Big Buoy’s Tiki Bar.
The DOT is also advocating for a pedestrian crossing separate from the current vehicular crossing, adjacent to the public restrooms.
“Doing this will require a change in the location of the street light and the location of the overhead power utility in that area. Those are things the city would do but be reimbursed 100 percent by the Federal Highway Administration through the Iowa DOT. So that’s good news,” Badenhope explained at the Feb. 18 McGregor City Council meeting.
Another safety concern is the fact people crawl between cars when trains stop at that crossing—sometimes for lengthy periods of time. To inhibit this, the project would include fencing on each side of the crossing. Badenhope said the DOT is willing to pay for 100 feet of fencing, but if it needs to continue in order to make a more effective barrier, the city would have to cover that cost. The fencing would not be chain link, but decorative, like that recently installed at Artesian Park by the library.
The final piece of the crossing will be installation of a 12-foot-by-12-foot pad and a silver control structure called a bungalow, which will be located near the public restrooms.
“In my opinion, that will junk up the corner that’s already busy, so I asked them if we could paint it, decorate it or do something fun with it, and they said yes,” according to Badenhope. “So there’s potential to take that silver structure and make it into something else.”
Through this process, city and ISU officials are advocating for a crosswalk across Main Street at this location. Accompanying flashing lights could warn motorists of potential pedestrians as they round the corner at the entrance to McGregor.
“I’m sure you guys know more than anyone that, when cars are blowing down from Marquette and are approaching that corner, they can’t see what’s happening to the right,” Badenhope said. “So we are going to follow up with the DOT on this and ask them to include this pedestrian crosswalk to the other side into their project.”
Discussions have spurred other potential improvements as well. Among them are mobile bathroom units that could be placed on the river side of the tracks, near the tiki bar, or by the First Street parking lot. By the tiki bar, for example, the unit could tap into existing utilities and be open if the bar is not.
“The reason this came up is people climb over and under when the train is parked there primarily to get to a restroom,” Crozier said.
It was also suggested that the city apply for a program that could provide advance warning when a crossing is blocked in Marquette. Motorists traveling from McGregor would then know to take an alternate route rather than get stopped in Marquette with nowhere to turn around.
Another proposed improvement is a second crossing over the city’s A Street right of way, past Kwik Star and the proposed Trilogy condominiums. Proponents say a second crossing would ease congestion at the current crossing, especially with the upcoming riverfront condo development and Westphal developments downtown projected to increase traffic.
“Having something here would also get people closer to the big available parking lot you have” on First Street, Badenhope said.
In order for the DOT to consider this, a traffic count will have to be conducted, updating data that was most recently collected in 2006. A camera at the current crossing intersection would provide “an accurate picture of what’s happening at the intersection, but you can also get numbers and traffic counts,” Badenhope said. “They’re really motivated to look at how many people are trying to make that crossing and what’s really possible at this location. That’s the information they would need to look at another crossing.”
This would also capture trains stopping at the crossing, she noted, an occurrence that has often been down played.
The traffic count is projected to occur this summer or fall, but there’s no official date yet.
“We have a window, but we don’t have official facts for a timeline,” said Crozier.
There’s also no date for when the crossing project will be completed. Although the DOT was hoping it could be done yet this year while equipment and federal funding is available, local officials are pressing for more time to assure the project meets everyone’s needs.
“Whatever they build is what you’re going to get at this crossing. My advice is take a breath and really study what that’s going to look like, and we will help you with that. Try to get what you want,” Badenhope said.
