22 times • JANUARY 28, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com How would you spend $1 million? Budget voting now open in Crowley’s district Safety measures implemented at site of fiery train collision in Maspeth BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Railroad officials hope a sign for train operators will keep things safer at a Maspeth railroad crossing. A new stop sign has been placed on the tracks at Maspeth Avenue and Rust Street in an effort to prevent another accident such as the one that took place in July 2015, which left the driver of a tractor-trailer hospitalized after a train engine crashed into his truck. In that accident, according to investigators, a New York and Atlantic Railway (NYA) train engine was traveling at least five miles per hour over the 15 mph speed limit when it hit the truck, which was in the process of passing the four-track crossing on Maspeth Avenue. The tractor-trailer was dragged down the tracks and burst into flames. The high speed of the train did not allow for the crossing gate to be activated before the truck entered the crossing, it was reported. The new signage has been placed to remind train crews to stop before entering the crossing. The engine is supposed to stop at an island circuit, which triggers the crossing gate to activate and prevent vehicles from entering the crossing. Only when the gate is down is the train supposed to proceed through the crossing. “What happened on July 8, 2015 at the Maspeth Avenue crossing was that the NYA train didn’t stop as the rules mandated,” according to a statement from Civics United for Railroad and Environmental Solutions (CURES), a civic group seeking better public safety near local train lines. “It blew through the crossing, exceeding the speed limit. It hit the tractor-trailer, which was already in the crossing. The gates were not down because the NYA train had not stopped and triggered them. The truck was dragged a good distance because of the speed of the train.” After the accident, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched a focused safety review of NYA’s safety culture and management practices. Additional review is ongoing. According to CURES, a stop sign has also been placed at the 88th Street atgrade crossing of the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Lower Montauk line in Glendale, which has been a problem for the community for some time. “There have been File photo; Inset photo via Facebook/CURES A new stop sign has been placed at the Maspeth Avenue and Rust Street railroad crossing, which was the site of a fiery crash last summer. numerous complaints about the 88th Street crossing. It’s near a school, so it’s a heavily traveled pedestrian pathway for children, as well as a heavily traveled street,” CURES said. “The problem at this crossing is that the engine was coming into the crossing, very close to cars coming across the tracks, while the gates were still up. People saw the engine and the lights when they were on the tracks and were scared.” BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Another year, another round of participatory budgeting for the 30th Council District. City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley set aside $1 million for members of the 30th Council District to vote on what project, or projects, they would like to see that money go toward for the first time last year, and is continuing it this year. Crowley is asking for community members to take part in a preliminary vote on what projects they would like to see on the final ballot. “Participatory budgeting is a process for the community, by the community. Therefore, we need the most possible input from our residents to best benefit the district,” Crowley said. “The budget delegates have been hard at work putting together project proposals, and we want to keep the entire community involved by giving them the opportunity to choose what is on the final ballot. I hope everyone uses this poll to their advantage, and I thank everyone for their participation.” There are currently 12 items up for vote on the preliminary ballot: Enhancing the planted area at Nathan Weidenbaum Park, located on Laurel Hill Boulevard, between 63rd and 64th streets, in Woodside; Adding new features in the skating rink at Forest Park; Refurbishing the basketball court and playground equipment, while adding new fencing at Little Bush Park in Woodside; Making playground renovations at Reiff Playground on Fresh Pond Road in Maspeth and Nathan Weidenbaum Park; Adding tech to the community center at the Ridgewood Library; Adding computer labs and technology upgrades at several schools across the council district; Updating the kitchen exhaust system at I.S. 73 in Maspeth; Making bathroom renovations at schools throughout the council district; Adding electrical upgrades and introducing smart boards at P.S./I.S. 87 in Middle Village; The replacement of auditorium seats at several schools in the council district; Creating technological upgrades for English language learners at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood; and Updating the air conditioning system at I.S. 73. By taking part in this vote it does not qualify as your vote in the final participatory budgeting vote and is non-binding. Voting is currently open, and the voting deadline is Friday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. District 30 is also looking for community members to become participatory volunteers. Photo via Twitter/@ElizCrowleyNYC Community members are invited to take part in a preliminary vote for this year’s participatory budgeting process for the 30th Council District.
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