Ridgefield Division Street railroad crossing closes

Ridgefield residents long awaiting the closing of the Division Street railroad crossing, and the lack of train horns that will result, have something to celebrate. On April 28, the city council approved a private crossing agreement with BNSF Railway. The agreement was signed May 2.

The private crossing agreement will close the Division Street rail crossing to public travel but still allow emergency vehicles to use the crossing when needed.

City Manager Steve Stuart said the agreement has been part of the Pioneer Street overpass project since 2010. Closing the crossing is the last step needed to allow trains to pass through Ridgefield without blowing their horns or using crossing signals to warn traffic.

Neighbors have complained that train horns are not only loud but disrupt their quality of life.

The city began closing the crossing last week by closing the gates and placing signs to remind motorists and pedestrians to use the new Pioneer Street overpass to access the waterfront area to the west.

Stuart said a little more time will be needed to remove the signals and for train horns to stop due to internal processes at BNSF but should follow soon.