The conflict over the removal of a railroad crossing on North Main St. in Monmouth between BNSF and the City of Monmouth is finally reaching a close. The Monmouth City Council and the railway company reached an agreement which will require BNSF to pay over $50,000, nearly 77 percent of the $65,000 removal cost for the project. Lew Steinbrecher, Monmouth’s City Administrator, commented on the approval:
“This really started about a year ago; I think June of last year. We had approached the railroad and asked them if they would be interested in doing a cost share with the City to remove the old railroad crossing out there on North Main St. They reluctantly indicated that it wasn’t their crossing anymore, and they weren’t willing to do any cost share with us at that time,” Steinbrecher stated.
After filing a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission, BNSF agreed to enter into negotiations with the City. Steinbrecher estimates a start date on the project falling somewhere after the Prime Beef Festival in September, and says Main St. will remain open during the entire removal process.
written by Jackson Kane
