By Erik Potter, Post-Tribune staff writer
PORTAGE -- Without the ability to conduct business due to lack of a quorum, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission members took the opportunity to vent their frustrations about poorly maintained Canadian National Railway crossings in their towns, counties or legislative districts.
The NIRPC members, most of whom are elected officials from the area, talked of uniting to oppose Canadian National Railway's proposed purchase of U.S. Steel's EJ&E railroad until the offending railroad crossings are repaired.
Shawn Pettit, a member of NIRPC and the Merrillville Town Council, said the railroad crossing on Taft Street and 63rd Avenue has been a headache for the city, damaging tire rims and slowing traffic on the two-lane road.
"CN's tracks through Merrillville are an absolute embarrassment," Pettit said. "They can't maintain their (current) railroad and now they want to buy another one?"
Representatives from Griffith, Munster and Schererville, as well as Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper and state Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, joined the chorus.
"This is not a minor thing. This is a major thing," said Schererville Town Council member Perry Ferrini.
Jim Kvedaras, spokesman for Canadian National, said railroad crossings repairs often are done along with other state or local repair work so a road is closed once, not twice.
"Historically, we find a lot of people are complaining about something that's getting worse and worse, because we're waiting for a state (repair) project" to come through, Kvedaras said.
NIRPC members said they want to use whatever leverage they have in opposing CN's purchase plans, to try to force some action.
The NIRPC executive board also directed its attorney to research state statutes that could allow municipalities to close a rail crossing until it is repaired.