Bumpy railroad crossing upsets Ashton

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Story Published: Aug 21, 2009 at 5:08 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 21, 2009 at 6:09 PM MDT

By Steven Pope

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ASHTON - "It's just bad for all of our cars, when you go across it just really shakes up the car," said Renee Stoddard, a 40-year Ashton resident.

"These tracks are really rough to go over. When I go over this, what I do is take my foot off the accelerator and go real slow," said Tom Jacobson, an Ashton resident.

I decided to put these concerns to the test, and drove the company car over the four railroad ties that cross the road. It's definitely jerky.

"Just a main flow of traffic, and it's just really rough, it just needs some attention. It hasn't been maintained for a very very long time," said Mayor Teddy Stronks.

This railroad crossing has been causing those frustrations for over 4 years now. Residents just want the problem fixed.

"I think they need to come in and take the ties up, fix the cement part right in here, and put in new ties, or put in new steel frames," said Stoddard.

"It would be easier on the cars," said Jacobson.

Taking action for you I called Eastern Idaho Railroad Company and spoke with Jack Lyle, "The mayor has been trying to resolve this issue with you guys for over 2 years now almost on a monthly basis contacting you guys."

But he cut me off, "Of that, I don't agree with that. I don't think that happened," said Jack Lyle.

"We've called to get some attention over the railroad track there, and they just haven't responded," said Stronks.

After I described to Lyle the frustrations from Ashton residents, I asked him, "You guys would go out and fix it, wouldn't ya?"

"Definitely, most definitely," replied Lyle.

And the mayor wishes he could take the matter into the city's own hands instead of waiting for Eastern Idaho Railroad to come out and fix it.

"We're not allowed to, that's the other problem. If we were allowed to fix it, we would, but we're not allowed to on railroad property," said Stronks.

But they'll have to wait in the mean time.

After our conversation with Lyle, he said, quote, "We'll look into the problem."

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