State Senate passes bill that would ease time railroad crossings are blocked by trains

The Oklahoma House will next week consider a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to block a railroad crossing for more than 10 minutes if there is no other crossing within a mile. <br><br>The state Senate

Friday, March 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma House will next week consider a bill that would make it a misdemeanor to block a railroad crossing for more than 10 minutes if there is no other crossing within a mile.

The state Senate passed Senate Bill 905 by Sen. Ted Fisher, D-Sapulpa, on Thursday. The measure is aimed at helping residents in the Mannford area, but will also address similar problems throughout the state.

Fisher told the Senate that the only railroad crossing in the area has been blocked by Burlington Northern & Santa Fe trains for as long as 47 minutes.

Lengthy periods of blocked crossings have become a common occurrence. Fisher said that has created a life-threatening situation for the 4,000 people who reside in and around the Creek County town when emergency vehicles are denied access.

Some senators were skeptical.

``Who was there first, the road or the railroad?'' Sen. Jim Dunlap, R-Bartlesville, asked.

Residents should have known there was only one crossing when they purchased their property in the area, Dunlap said in a story from the Tulsa World's Capitol bureau.

Fisher said the railroad was there first, but said there were other crossings until Lake Keystone was created. The railroad could correct the situation if it would reconfigure a siding at the crossing, he said.

Fisher's measure would assess a $1,000 fine, plus $100 for each minute beyond 10.