Letter to James M. Foote, President and CEO of CSX Transportation - Following last month's terrifying incident of rock chunks raining down +140 feet from CSX trestle in Kingston, resulting in hospitalizations & totaled cars, Schumer calls on CSX to implement critical safety measures ASAP; senator urges CSX to install safety netting under trestle, to shield passerby from falling debris, restore safety and peace of mind in Ulster County

Letter

Dear Mr. Foote:

I write with the urgent request that CSX Transportation (CSX) take increased safety precautions at the CSX trestle over Abeel Street in the City of Kingston, New York with all due speed. Specifically, as a result of the July 30, 2019 incident where ballast rocks fell from a CSX freight train as it crossed the trestle Abeel Street, injuring two people and severely damaging vehicles, I am urge CSX to immediately install netting over Abeel Street and implement and publically release a long-term, comprehensive safety report to prevent future incidents from occurring and to increase safety and restore peace of mind to Kingston residents.

The trestle over Abeel Street has an open deck bridge that has the potential to endanger those traveling under it, including hundreds of vehicles and residents each day. On July 30th, a maintenance crew dropped ballast rock on the tracks leading to the CSX trestle. Prior to crossing the trestle the ballast dropping was supposed to stop. Unfortunately, due to either a lapse in judgment or a malfunction, the CSX ballast work train continued laying stones on the tracks and some fell between the ties on the bridge and struck vehicles and passengers over 140-feet below, resulting in two Ulster County residents being hospitalized, causing injuries, property damage, and significant alarm to residents.

Even more troubling, I've recently learned that this problem is not new for Abeel Street. Dating back to 1992, when Conrail owned the tracks, this bridge was dangerous for residents; a large piece of a train was dislodged from a railroad car and fell from the tracks, seriously injuring two passengers driving on Abeel Street. An investigative report following that incident clearly states that previous protective netting was removed for unknown reasons. Further, in 1992 investigators suggested that the net should be re-installed, saying, "upon numerous complaints received, necessary action by Conrail would of been to erect a catch type basin or pan of some type underneath the bridge to collect the fallen debris […]. It is my understanding a one time that netting was erected underneath this span over the roadway." However, action never followed. Now, in 2019, with five incident reports filed since last month's incident, it is only logical that CSX reinstall the net with all due speed.

In addition, there are reports as recent as September 3rd that a wooden beam is hanging from the trestle and ballast debris is still falling from the tracks and landing on Abeel Street. It is clear that the trestle should be inspected for stability and integrity and safety netting should be installed before it causes any further injury to Kingston residents. The 1992 report also states, "open decks are costly but their use introduces in-flammable materials, and for bridges over streets and highways, additional measures such as canopies, plates, or wooden flooring must be utilized to protect highway traffic and pedestrian traffic from falling objects water or other materials during the movement of trains." Though much may have changed over the past 27 years, the desire and necessity of protecting motorists and pedestrians on Abeel Street has remained the same, yet has been unfruitful.

It is incumbent on CSX to install safety netting under the Abeel Street trestle, and I also urge CSX to produce and publically release a safety report on the trestle and restore safety and peace of mind to Kingston motorists and pedestrians. Thank you for your attention to these issues; I believe that your attention will make a meaningful improvement in rail safety in Ulster County and throughout New York. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

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