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Council member Miss Hicks says Norfolk Southern asked town to reimburse railroad for full crossing replacement
Summary
Council member Miss Hicks told the Christiansburg Town Council that Norfolk Southern inspected the Depot Street crossing and said a town-requested full replacement would require track reconstruction and that the railroad expects reimbursement; Norfolk Southern offered spot repairs as an alternative.
Council member Miss Hicks told the Christiansburg Town Council during a routine meeting that Norfolk Southern inspected the Depot Street rail crossing at Walnut Creek and reported the crossing is safe for traffic but that a full replacement requested by the town would go beyond the railroad’s routine maintenance and require track reconstruction.
"The proposed project at the request of the town is a complete replacement of the existing crossing, which is beyond the bounds of the Code of Virginia regarding to maintain such crossing in a smooth condition," Miss Hicks said, reading from an email she said came from a Norfolk Southern representative.
Miss Hicks quoted the company as saying that installing an upgraded full-depth rubber surface "would require complete track reconstruction to ensure the proper fit" and that because that scope is above normal maintenance, Norfolk Southern requested the town reimburse the railroad for the work. According to Miss Hicks, Norfolk Southern offered an alternative: remove loosened concrete panels and replace them with spot asphalt to create a relatively smooth surface if the town does not pursue the full replacement.
Miss Hicks cited provisions of the Code of Virginia governing railroad duties at public crossings, noting the law requires railroads to keep crossings in good repair and maintain the portion of the highway within two feet of the rails but does not compel a railroad to perform a full reconstruction requested by a municipality.
The town did not take action during the meeting; Miss Hicks presented the correspondence and recommended council members consider whether to pursue the full replacement and any payment responsibility. No Norfolk Southern representative addressed the council during the meeting.
Next steps: the council did not set a vote or a specific deadline but raised the matter for future discussion and potential follow-up with the railroad and staff.
