Committee supports petition to state rail regulator for bicycle-pedestrian crossing at Gilbert Park

The committee voted unanimously to support staff’s plan to petition the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) to establish an official bicycle and pedestrian crossing across the railroad tracks at the south end of Gilbert Park.

Brad (transcript: "Brad Seer Memel") told the committee staff have met with the current railroad owner (Watco) and shared preliminary plans. He said an earlier petition had been denied when CN was the railroad operator, largely over sight-line concerns, but that conversations with the current operator had been more productive. He emphasized the crossing would complete an east-side trail connection and reduce unsafe, unofficial track crossings.

Alder members asked whether denial of the crossing would block the trail extension; staff said the trail could be dead-ended to a turnaround or trailhead if an official crossing is not allowed, but that an approved crossing would better reduce unsafe informal crossings. The committee moved to support filing the petition and the motion passed without opposition.

Why it matters: An official at-grade crossing would complete an east-side trail segment, improve nonmotorized connectivity and reduce informal, potentially hazardous crossings of active railroad tracks; however, final approval rests with the OCR and the railroad operator.

What’s next: Staff will file the OCR petition and continue coordination with the railroad and the bike/pedestrian committee; if contested by the railroad, staff said engineering will prepare sight-distance and train-speed data as required by the OCR process.