Kalamazoo leaders to consider closing some train crossings

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — On Monday, Kalamazoo City Commission will vote whether to start negotiations with the Michigan Department of Transportation to get safety incentives for closing down three railway crossings in the city.

The crossings are located at Water Street, Elm Street and the Elm Crossover, between Main Street and Kalamazoo Avenue. According to city documents, the move could generate $250,000 for each crossing on top of additional federal funding.

The documents, which are part of Monday’s meeting packet, also mention the potential elimination of a track that goes through downtown as well as relocating the Grand Elk rail yard near the east side of the city.

City officials say this is part of a much larger traffic improvement plan.

“This potential move is part of the City’s conversion of Kalamazoo and Michigan Avenues to two-way traffic. The resolution in front of the City Commission is the first of several steps in the process to allow the City to enter into these negotiations with MDOT,” said Michael Smith, communications manager for the city in an email statement.

An MDOT official said the safety incentives are not negotiated but rather applied for. The payments are part of a program aiming to help reduce the number of street-railroad, or grade crossings by 25% nationwide, a goal of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Transportation leaders said some of the many benefits of closing the crossings include reducing the risk of train and vehicle crashes as well as reducing traffic speeds in new cul-de-sacs.

As the city officials press for traffic improvements, they say community engagement will be part of the process.

The Kalamazoo City Commission meets Monday at 7 p.m. in the Kalamazoo City Hall.

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