03/27/72 Board of Public Works Minutes

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�51 3/27/72 Upon motion made, seconded and unanimously carried the petition was referred to the Engineering Department and the Area Plan Commission for investigation and recommendation. The matter of the costs for advertising was taken under consideration.. VACATION OF KALEY STREET FROM TUCKER DRIVE TO RAILROAD -STEEL WAREHOUSE ET AL AREA PLAN COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Area Plan Commission filed with the Board its favorable recommendation for the vacation of Kaley Street from the south right of way line of Tucker Drive, south to the south right of way of the St, Joseph, South Bend and Southern Railroad. Upon notion made, seconded and carried the matter is now referred to the Engineering Department for the preparation of a vacation resolution. LETTER FROM CHICAGO, SOUTH SHORE AND SOUTH BEND RAILROAD The foil owing letter was presented to the Board: March 17, 1972 2f� �+ File: Birdsall St. Crossing #1.20 U Board of Public Works and Safety City of South Bend County City Building, Room 1316 South Bend, Indiana 46601 Gent lmen: The Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad maintains automatic flashing light signals and gates where its former passenger trakc crosses Birdseli Street and Walnut Street in the City of South Bend. The track is now used solely to provide freight service to Weisberger Brothers Warehouse on the west side of LaPorte Avenue. In 197t, we delivered 68 cars to this warehouse. An engine with one or two freight cars uses this track approximately 3 times a week usually in the late afternoon. The engine is on the west end of the train and a brakeman is on the most easterly freight car to insure the way is clear. The flashing.light signals and gates were installed bt Birdsall Street Crossing in 1938. The protection at Walnut Street at which location the track is in the middle of Orange Street, was installed In 1949. The gate mechanisms at Birdsall Street are obsolete and we cannot obtain repair parts. The gates at either or both crossings are sometimes in the down position blocking vehicular traffic due to appartus failure or vandalism until out signaimai,ntainer arrives to clear the problem. Because of the limited rail traffic, we believe that it is in the public interest to remove the automatic crossing protection. The South Shore would stop its train before entering each crossing and the brakeman:on the lead car would flag the crossing. There is a street light at each crossing. Removal of the automatic crossing protection would reduce delays to the public when failure or vandaiism.causes the gates to be lowered unnecessarily end would reduce our maintenance expense without de- creasing public safety in our opinion. We respectfully request your approval of this proposed removal before we seek the approval of the Indiana Public Service Commission. Yours truly, s/ C. F. Mulrenan, Chief Engineer