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Hagerstown studies closing Summit Avenue railroad crossing; CSX safety concerns and state funding influence next steps
Summary
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — City engineering staff updated the Mayor and City Council on May 6 about a multi‑year review of the Summit Avenue railroad crossing in Park Circle and said CSX prefers closure because the crossing lacks modern safety features; staff recommended a targeted follow‑up survey of businesses and residents.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. — City engineering staff updated the Mayor and City Council on May 6 about a long‑running review of the Summit Avenue railroad crossing in Park Circle and asked for direction to proceed with additional public outreach and data collection.
Staff said CSX Transportation has repeatedly told the city it prefers closure of the Summit Avenue crossing because that crossing lacks the safety features of nearby crossings and CSX considers it redundant. Engineering staff reported that state funds are available to upgrade the other Park Circle crossings (Walnut Street and Virginia Avenue), but release of those funds depends on CSX authorizing the work and the city’s action on Summit Avenue.
Why this matters: Closing a railroad crossing changes traffic patterns for residents and businesses, affects freight and deliveries and can alter access for industrial users. One nearby business — Columbia Gas — uses the Summit Avenue crossing for large truck deliveries, and staff said any closure would need to account for Columbia Gas’s operational needs.
Background and recent activity: The Summit Avenue closure conversation dates to about 2015, with renewed study around 2020–2021. A city survey completed earlier produced roughly split reactions among residents. Staff reported doing targeted traffic counts earlier this spring: with the Summit crossing open they measured about four cars per minute on a short stretch of Memorial Boulevard; with the crossing temporarily closed the count rose to about six cars per minute. Staff said the increase did not cause observable operational issues during the test week.
Staff recommendation and council direction: Engineering recommended another targeted survey of businesses and residents most likely to be affected and said a development partner and CSX have been engaged in negotiation for some time. The council asked staff to circulate a short follow‑up survey to businesses close to the crossing (the prior survey covered roughly 700 recipients) and to return with updated survey results and an implementation plan for council consideration. Several council members suggested the recent opening of Meredith Park and local traffic changes may have shifted public opinion since the prior survey.
Funding and timing: Staff warned that available state funding for crossing upgrades may be time‑limited and that delays could jeopardize funds. At least one past federal grant tied to a related multiuse trail (the Marsh Run Trail) was clawed back after the project did not advance to construction within the required window.
Ending: Staff will conduct another survey of nearby businesses and residents, continue discussions with Columbia Gas and the development partner and return to council with results and a recommended action for a future vote.
