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Deficient safeguards spur rail crossing closure

Posted at 11:52 AM, May 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-10 14:52:14-04

The Arizona Corporation Commission is ordering the closure of a Phoenix railroad crossing that federal transportation officials have branded one of the most dangerous in the U.S.

The commission said Wednesday it unanimously called for BNSF Railway Company to close the crossing at 35th Avenue and Indian School Road unless an agreement on safety adjustments is reached before May 19.
    
Commissioners say city, state and rail officials failed to follow through on improvements proposed back in 2013.
    
The improvements were to include the installation of signal fixtures south of the crossing.
    
New signals have only been installed on the north side.
    
The commission says this has created confusion and danger.
    
The Federal Railroad Administration in 2016 said the crossing had one of the highest incident rates over the last decade.