Pedestrian Bridge over CSX Tracks on Locust - Page 5 - PhillyBlog

zur · #41 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

The company; they are putting as little as they can back into CSX for repairs and upkeep, so their entire system is falling apart.

You apparently didn't read the article I posted, which suggests that very thing.

Actually, that just goes to prove my point: they are completely focused on maximizing profits at the expense of everything else.

No, but we are the citizens of this city. CSX is a company with no ties to the city who just happen to own the right of way along the river. If it is the public's interest to put that land (which the railroad was probably given in the first place) to better use then so be it.

There used to be railroad right of ways down a number of streets in the city, including Washington Ave and (back in the 19th century) parts of Arch and Market streets. Do you think it was wrong that those right of ways (which killed dozens of people each year) were taken away from the railroads?

One more thought: if CSX has to maintain a right of way along the river, why does it have to be at grade? The track could be sunk and covered over, which would solve both the safety issue and the land-use issue.

a ditch next to a river.

Yeah... great idea.

finch00 · #42 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 05:10 PM

As far as I'm concerned CSX should deny access to the entire park. keep it maintained and pritty.

Use one of the many fine parks included in the over 9200 acres of the Fairmont park system for your morning jog or a just buy a treadmill.

Silly play time and the value of condos should not stand in the way of one of the few profitable industries left in the country.

finch00 · #43 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

There used to be railroad right of ways down a number of streets in the city, including Washington Ave and (back in the 19th century) parts of Arch and Market streets. Do you think it was wrong that those right of ways (which killed dozens of people each year) were taken away from the railroads?

if it would have kept manufacturing in this city, yes.

also i'd like to call bull$hit on "dozens" a year.

billy ross · #44 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 06:08 PM

In 1930 the rail line on Cresson Street in Manayunk was elevated; so many people were killed while it ran at grade that there were not one but two 'crossing-people' whose job it was to keep the carnage down.

baccarati · #45 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 03:58 PM

id like to know more about the proposed PATCO light rail...

eldondre · #46 (**permalink**) 06-11-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

The company; they are putting as little as they can back into CSX for repairs and upkeep, so their entire system is falling apart.

that changed a couple of years ago. I've seen them replacing ties and surfacing track on this line but the big capital dollars, right now, are being spent on a Chicago-Florida corridor where NS is beating their pants off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

You apparently didn't read the article I posted, which suggests that very thing.

CSX, like many railroads, for years believed their days were numbered. CSX and UP were among th last to get religion but they are reinvesting for the long term. short term is a word railroads are not familiar with. there's nothing wrong with being a profit oritented company. one of Philadelphia's biggest problems is it doesn't have enough of these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

No, but we are the citizens of this city. CSX is a company with no ties to the city who just happen to own the right of way along the river. If it is the public's interest to put that land (which the railroad was probably given in the first place) to better use then so be it.

perhaps they were, perhaps they weren't but if you take it, they shoudl be property compensated.
[quote=Simon Wolf;790014]
There used to be railroad right of ways down a number of streets in the city, including Washington Ave and (back in the 19th century) parts of Arch and Market streets. Do you think it was wrong that those right of ways (which killed dozens of people each year) were taken away from the railroads?
[/[quote]
I'm not so sure that they were taken but replaced with better solutions.

Quote:

The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore was the key link in the series of mergers which created the dominant Pennsylvania Railroad. Bringing northern traffic in through North Philadelphia to the new 30th Street Station,
and then linking it to the stub of the P,W,B RR, the way was being paved for Ascella Express trains to shoot from Boston to Washington, perhaps eventually to Florida. The side-track from West Philadelphia to Broad and Washington was allowed to wither,

http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com/blog/632.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Wolf

One more thought: if CSX has to maintain a right of way along the river, why does it have to be at grade? The track could be sunk and covered over, which would solve both the safety issue and the land-use issue.

not a bad idea. I don't know if anyone else brought it up, but if the path is extended to south st, would an access point there suffice?
solutions are becoming more difficult as ROW on the west side is being eaten up by development. these ROW's are very long term things by nature, and whose to say what the port of Philadelphia will be doing in 50 years?
billy ross, we are really spoiled out east as much of the engineering work has been done. the rest of the country has far more grade crossings. given the tax and regulatory climate of today, these projects almost always need public-private partnerships. It's possible you could use th ePA ave tunnel and tunnel under 22nd st to grays ferry. they'd probably lvoe doubel stack clearance and getting over/under the subway might be a challenge.as mentioned, a third solution might be to elevate the tracks like the highline.