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Questions and Answers About Old Highway 18 Crossing Closing Updated: February 18, 2008 2. Why is the City so concerned about a rail crossing in the Town of Stockton? 3. What is the meaning of the postponement for the closing of OH18 crossing? From James: If, despite the efforts, the railroad crossing does close, what is the chance that a bike path be created on the north side of the tracks from Old 18 to the feedmill? Answer: There are a number of options that have been tossed around by many, including our "defense team": * Road or bike lane extension to OH18 north of tracks Stockton Road (road won't work, house and septic system in the way, but maybe a path); * Closing the crossing to motor vehicles but keep it open for pedestrians (which includes bikes); * Build an bicycle underpass there at the crossing; * Build a road 1/2 mile north of OH18 from subdivision to Stockton Road; * Build a pedestrian/bike overpass at the crossing; * Build a pedestrian/bike path from the PC Business Park east just south of tracks to Burbank (this is actually the best for biking, as connections to both OH18 AND Burbank are maintained; * Build a road same as previous, but for motor vehicles too. So, as you can see there have been a number of "proposals", but no one has the money to do any of it. Besides, the Town of Stockton and the City are NOT going to let this crossing be closed, short of losing on appeal to the PC Circuit Court (Fleishauer, Finn, Flugaur--bicyclists all). So we think the best is to just spend a bit of money to make it safer and keep it open. From Anonymous: Why is the City of Stevens Point so involved in trying to keep the OH18 rail crossing open? Answer: The City of Stevens Point has what is call extra-territorial rights for land east of the Portage County Business Park to Burbank Road. This means that someday, as the City grows it may/can annex this land, along with the rail crossing on OH18. The City plans for all the land in this area to be zoned either commercial or residential depending on growth and demand. The City's position with regards to the rail crossing is that, once growth takes place in this area, north-south access as provided by Burbank Road will be vital. City planning folks fear that once the crossing is closed, it will never be opened again, leading to severe access and safety problems in the future. From Jeanette: What is the meaning of all these postponements for the outcome of the OH18 crossing closing? Answer: The Canadian National/Wisconsin Central Ltd. railroad has been interested in closing this crossing for many years. Most recent activities, and the beginning of our tracking of it on the Heartland Website, initiated in the spring of 2005 with a petition to the Office of Commissioner of Railroads (OCR or Commissioner). This action to close the crossing at Old Highway 18 has been so "on-again, off-again" that the OCR has assigned three different docket numbers to the case! There have been 3 postponements in the past 2 years: 1) by the railroad in order to complete its engineering study, 2) by the Town of Stockton to complete its engineering study and engineering plans for crossing improvements, and 3) this last postponement by the railroad a few days prior to the scheduled hearing in order "to discuss a mutually acceptable resolution with the Town of Stockton, Portage County, and Heartland Bike & Nordic Ski Club." So, postponements are not unusual and are certainly a part of this case thus far. As to the effect this current postponement will have on the ultimate outcome is anyone's guess. However, the preparation that has been done by the OH18 Defense Team has been exhaustive and thorough, and has been done with an eye on the possibility that, if the crossing is ordered closed by the Commissioner, this case could go to appeal. On appeal, the Portage County Circuit judge appointed to the case will hear the case only on the record that is created at the time of the original hearing—that is, no other evidence (exhibits, witness testimony, etc.) can be submitted for consideration by the appeal's judge at the time of the appeal. Thus, all information and data needing to be before the appeal's judge then must be before the hearing examiner and Commissioner now. We, the Defense Team, feel fairly confident in our position, backed by a plethora of data and statistics, including the testimony of 4 engineers, that the evidence shows closing this crossing will make things more unsafe, and not safer as the railroad maintains. So, if the railroad, Town of Stockton, Heartland Club, and other parties with substantial interests (like the City of Stevens Point) can not reach an negotiated settlement that is agreeable to all, then soon after that impasse is reached (probably before the end of March, 2008), the case will go on to hearing, followed by a decision and order by the Commissioner. Please email your questions to: Jack Friess jack@heartlandclub.org OH18 Defense Team Heartland Bike & Nordic Ski Club |