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Wisconsin Rapids committee defers decision on voluntary closure of Kingston Road railroad crossing
Summary
The Public Works Committee reviewed a draft agreement with Canadian National Railroad to close the Kingston Road crossing after a 2023 traffic count showed 188 average daily vehicles. Committee members and residents raised access and cost concerns and agreed to defer action while seeking larger contributions from CN and DOT.
The Wisconsin Rapids Public Works Committee deferred action on a proposed voluntary closure of the Kingston Road railroad crossing after staff and residents raised questions about costs and driveway access.
City engineer Joestead, who briefed the committee, said Canadian National Railroad had petitioned the state Office of the Commissioner of Railroads in 2023 for a 50/50 cost-share to upgrade warning equipment at the Kingston Road crossing. An OCR audit and the city's 2023 traffic count found an average annual daily traffic volume of 188 vehicles, which Joestead described as "low," prompting the state to revisit whether upgrades or a closure are the more appropriate response.
Joestead said OCR declined to fund the full equipment upgrade and suggested the city consider a voluntary closure; under that scenario, DOT would match CN's contribution. Packet materials cited a maximum DOT contribution of about $30,000, with a corresponding $30,000 from CN for a combined roughly $60,000. Joestead told the committee that earlier city cost estimates to implement a closure concept (closing the curb at 28th Street and constructing a 90-degree turn with curb and gutter, plus a short dead-end turnaround near 26th Street to serve two private drives) were about $131,000 but that CN's proposed scope could reduce the city's share to around $100,000. Joestead said a full equipment upgrade instead could cost about $320,000.
Resident Helen Novak, who identified herself as living at 2740 Kingston Road, asked whether the project would eliminate a driveway and render a deck obsolete; Joestead replied the plan recognizes two driveways and that the city would accommodate access either by keeping a Kingston Road approach or rerouting to 28th Street.
Tom Rome, a resident at 1220 22nd Street North, criticized CN's past cooperation and questioned whether notice of the project had reached all users of the crossing. "They're encouraging communities to get rid of railroad crossings by offering a little incentive," Rome said, urging the committee not to accept what he called a "low ball" contribution and to follow staff recommendations to seek additional funding.
A committee member who identified himself only as Ryan (last name not stated in the transcript) said the decision hinges on cost and safety, noting the long-term maintenance exposure if the city were to commit to signal upgrades. "The 320,000 versus the potential 100,000 is a significant difference," he said, and asked staff to provide a conceptual map showing how driveway access would be maintained so neighbors can review the impact.
Another committee member offered to meet with Novak to review her driveway concerns in person.
After discussion, the committee agreed to defer final action until staff returns with any updated funding offers from DOT and Canadian National and a clearer conceptual design for neighbor review. The item will return to a future public works agenda for further consideration.
