Digital Subscription

tool name

close
tool goes here

BNSF promises to fix bumpy Whatcom railroad crossings

JOHN STARK; THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Published: Feb. 26, 2013 at 5:28 p.m. PST — Updated: Feb. 26, 2013 at 5:28 p.m. PST
0 comments
A coal train waits near Portal Way in Ferndale Friday morning, Nov. 2, 2012, to cross the border. (PHILIP A. DWYER/THE BELLINGHAM HERALD)

The day after the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission announced unprecedented fines against BNSF Railway Co., a company spokesman says BNSF will make needed rail crossing repairs by the end of March 2013.

Although the state's $105,000 fine for failure to repair seven crossings - six in Whatcom County and one in Skagit County - may seem tiny compared to BNSF's 2012 nationwide capital budget of $3.9 billion, it is the largest such fine the commission has ever assessed, said Dave Pratt, the commission's assistant director for transportation safety.

"In this case we weren't getting much response from the railroad," Pratt said in explaining the fine. "It just went on too long."

The problems at the crossings consist of potholes and other defects that make for a bumpy ride for motorists. The commission has been trying to get repairs on some of them for almost two years, according to a commission press release.

"These are not life-threatening defects at these crossings," Pratt said. "It's not an immediate danger now, but left unattended, it could be."

Pratt said inspectors working for the commission are checking out all public rail crossings in the state a minimum of once every three years, and defects that inspectors find are then reported to the railroad for repair.

The fines announced Monday, Feb. 25, were the result of problems at these crossings:

-- Siper Road, Whatcom County - potholes, deteriorated asphalt, uneven surfaces.

-- Massey Road, Whatcom County - uneven surface.

-- Madison Street, city of Nooksack - potholes, uneven surface.

-- Highway 9, Sumas - broken, loose or missing metal bands on concrete planks.

-- Aldergrove Road, Ferndale - rough surface, broken planks, defective timbers.

-- Hawley Street, Lynden - broken plank or crosstie.

-- South Walnut Street, Burlington - broken plank or crosstie.

BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the railroad gave the state commission a plan for repairing the crossings earlier this year.

Pratt said that was news to him. He said BNSF has submitted repair plans for some problem crossings, but not the ones in question.

The railroad has 15 days to respond to the fine assessment. If railroad officials wish to contest the fine, they can ask for a reduction in the amount or they could seek a hearing to challenge it.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here

We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.

SPORTS
SOUTH SOUND
BLOGS
CONTESTS

Similar stories

  • BNSF repairs Siper Road crossing following fines for unrepaired crossings

    Construction work began Monday, April 15, on the railroad crossing at Siper and Lawrence roads, one of the crossings that BNSF Railway Co. had been fined earlier this year for failing to repair.

    The Siper Road crossing, north of Nugent's Corner, will be closed through Wednesday, as BNSF crews work to replace ties, crossing approaches and the panels that create the surface of the crossing, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. The crossing will be closed to all traffic during the work, including school buses and emergency vehicles.

    The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission fined BNSF $105,000 in February for failing to repair seven bumpy crossings - six in Whatcom County and one in Skagit. The Siper Road crossing had issues with potholes, deteriorated asphalt and uneven surfaces.

  • BNSF repairs Siper Road crossing following fines for unrepaired crossings

    Construction work began Monday, April 15, on the railroad crossing at Siper and Lawrence roads, one of the crossings that BNSF Railway Co. had been fined earlier this year for failing to repair.

    The Siper Road crossing, north of Nugent's Corner, will be closed through Wednesday, as BNSF crews work to replace ties, crossing approaches and the panels that create the surface of the crossing, BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said. The crossing will be closed to all traffic during the work, including school buses and emergency vehicles.

    The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission fined BNSF $105,000 in February for failing to repair seven bumpy crossings - six in Whatcom County and one in Skagit. The Siper Road crossing had issues with potholes, deteriorated asphalt and uneven surfaces.

  • BNSF fined for railroad crossing defects in Whatcom, Skagit counties

    BNSF Railway Co. has been fined $105,000 for not repairing railroad crossing defects in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

    The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission announced the penalty Monday, Feb. 25, after determining BNSF didn't fix the defects at seven crossings. The commission sent the railroad company a letter in December 2012 outlining the problems and asking they be fixed or develop a plan to do so.

    A Jan. 29 inspection showed no repairs had been made at the sites, some of which the company had committed to repairing almost two years ago, according to the UTC.

  • Sierra Club challenges coal spills from trains

    The Sierra Club and allied environmental organizations announced they may go to court to use the federal Clean Water Act to curb alleged spillage of dust and fragments from coal trains passing through the Columbia Gorge and other places in Washington, including Bellingham.

    At a Tuesday, April 2, news conference, Cesia Kearns, a Sierra Club spokeswoman, said BNSF Railway Co. and the coal producers who use its rails have been given formal notice of intent to sue.

    Under the terms of the Clean Water Act, the notice gives the companies 60 days to stop the Clean Water Act violations that environmentalists allege are ongoing. At that point, the groups could go to federal court to seek a binding order directing BNSF and the coal companies to curb violations, if the evidence justifies that.

  • Major road projects to expect this spring, summer in Whatcom County

    The rainy season is giving way to construction season, and drivers in every corner of Whatcom County are bound to encounter closed lanes and detours in the months ahead.

    The state Department of Transportation doesn't have a lot of big-ticket projects in Whatcom County this year. The state's most significant work will take place on Meridian Street, between Interstate 5 and Horton Road. The agency and the contractor plan to close lanes only at night.

    Another big Bellingham project, this one being handled by the city, is a roundabout at the intersection of Boulevard, State Street, North Forest Street and Wharf Street. This will meet immediate safety needs and serve future development of the waterfront at the bottom of Wharf Street.