HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-30-22 Public Comment - N. Cornwell - The Rouse and Wallace rail crossings. I was encouraged to send you my NextDoor post after my latest experience. Enjoy the read_From:Nancy Cornwell
To:Agenda
Subject:The Rouse and Wallace rail crossings. I was encouraged to send you my NextDoor post after my latest
experience. Enjoy the read:
Date:Sunday, October 30, 2022 6:32:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I know there have been posts before about this and god knows I have spent more time at
the train crossings than it takes to drink my coffee, but tonight, at the tail end of rush hour,
was a new railroad low. Biking home, I heard the whistle and thought, if I don't rush, it will
have passed about the time I get there. What I should have done is gone to Mountains
Walking and stayed til closing. The world's longest train crawled into the Wallace crossing
and I along with other runners, bikers and cars sat. And sat. The sun went down. Still sat.
Then seeing the end of the train, my heart lifted... then sank as the train slowed to a stop.
And stayed that way. I offered a symbolic gesture with both hands. And thought about
alternative biking options cause it was getting dark. I saw a trail that looked like it might go
towards Rouse where certainly the train would have passed before stopping. I pedaled.
Hopeful. And my heart sank again as I saw backed up cars. The train had stopped,
blocking the tracks with only five rail cars to go before clearing Rouse. I could see to the
west, the lights of another train in the distance. I suspect this monstrosity was waiting for
additional engines to go east over the pass (it had only two in front and none in back and it
was a long friggin' train). So, I walked my bike to the end of the train and over the tracks
and back to the north side of Rouse, something no car would able to do. I offered more
symbolic gestures on behalf of all the folks who will be stuck there for a loooong time while
BNSF hooked up additional engines and continue moving. FIVE rail cars from a clear
Rouse, folks. Bozeman needs to do something about this, for access to emergency
vehicles incase someone on the north side needs to go to the hospital or maybe more
likely, someone loses it and causes damage because of the trains sitting for 30+ minutes
blocking the two east side north/south roads.
Nancy Cornwell
crestain@gmail.com