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La Crosse opposes WisDOT plan to close multiple at‑grade railroad crossings, cites conflicts with adopted plans
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a resolution opposing a Wisconsin DOT petition to close vehicle access at several North Side railroad crossings, arguing the closures conflict with multiple city plans and that other alternatives exist; the resolution will be forwarded in the state process.
On April 28, 2025, the La Crosse Planning Commission adopted a resolution opposing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s petition to close vehicle access at several at‑grade railroad crossings on the city’s North Side (including Liberty, Saint Cloud, Avon and Hager streets) and to install cul‑de‑sacs or dead‑end streets in their place.
City staff said the DOT petition is not in conformance with multiple adopted local plans — including the city comprehensive plan, the bicycle and pedestrian plan, the Safe Routes to School plan, the Highway 53 corridor plan and the city’s transportation vision — and recommended the commission send a formal municipal objection. Planning staff noted the DOT’s filing to the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) initiated the formal state review process; staff also said the DOT’s technical memorandum described several alternatives (median extensions, four‑way stops, modified gates and other options) and that closure was not the highest‑ranked choice in the consultant criteria despite being the closure option the DOT submitted.
Commission members and staff framed closure as a significant change for the neighborhood’s mobility. Council member Charles called the closure proposal “scorched earth,” saying it would force traffic to the less‑desirable overpass and viaduct and create ADA accessibility and sidewalk width problems. Planning Director Matthew Gallagher and other staff said they would support the resolution opposing the DOT petition and that additional public comment opportunities would occur during subsequent hearings and the Board of Public Works and Joint review meetings.
The commission voted to approve the resolution opposing the DOT petition and directed staff to provide technical materials and the city’s adopted plans as part of the municipal comment to the OCR.
Next steps: staff will forward the city’s resolution and technical comments to the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads and participate in upcoming public hearings; the item will also be available for further discussion at the Joint Review Authority (JNA) meeting noted by staff.
