Springdale Council is not budging on who should repair a railroad crossing that was the scene of a train-truck crash.
That sentiment was made clear by Council President Mike Ziencik when he questioned an item on the engineer’s report referencing the need to assess what work needs to be done on the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing at Colfax and Railroad streets.
The crossing is where a Norfolk Southern train crashed into a tractor-trailer in February 2024. According to police Chief Derek Dayoub, the accident occurred when the dolly legs of the rig were not raised and became jammed under a rail at the crossing. The truck was owned by GetGo Transportation, a contractor working for PPG Industries.
When the driver could not free the truck, he got out the cab of the truck, which was hit by an approaching train about 90 seconds later. Springdale’s investigation pointed to driver error as the cause, according to borough Manager Terry Carcella.
It was the fourth accident at the crossing in six years, none of which caused any injuries.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates railroads in Pennsylvania.
Last August, GetGo Transportation, based near Toledo, Ohio, filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern with the PUC alleging the railroad had created a hump at the crossing by adding new ballast materials.
“The humped condition of Colfax Crossing is of particular concern to tractor-trailer vehicles, like those operated by GetGo, as low ground clearance and a long wheelbase increase the likelihood of hang-up on the tracks,” the complaint said.
GetGo asked the PUC to order Norfolk Southern to “eliminate the hang up hazard” and adjust the roadway profile.
The complaint also listed PennDOT, Allegheny County and Springdale as parties to the dispute.
PUC spokesman Nils Hagen-Frederiksen said the commission held a field investigation and conference in September with all the parties.
“Low Ground Clearance” signs have been installed on the approaches to the crossing, he said.
The investigation related to the complaint, however, remains ongoing, according to Hagen-Frederiksen.
PPG, which has a manufacturing plant just across the tracks, paid for the signs, Carcella said.
Ziencik said Springdale’s position that the issue has to be resolved by the trucking company and the railroad remains unchanged.
And, for now, that appears to be what’s happening.
Carcella said Springdale is in a “holding pattern” and mostly on the sidelines in the dispute.
The item was on the engineer’s report because the parties involved want to find out what the cost of remediation is, Carcella said.
But so far, he said, the dispute hasn’t cost the borough anything, nor should it.
“Bottom line: we had no control over that,” Carcella said. “If repairs are to be made, they should be the ones to make it.”
GetGo Transportation’s attorney Joe Lesinski declined to comment.
Norfolk Southern also declined to comment on specifics, citing active litigation.