I was dumbfounded to read the state Department of Transportation's new solution to the "alleged" major safety problem that never existed at the railroad crossings in Fonda in the first place.
The bottom line is DOT and CSX are proposing a "solution" when they have not established there is a "safety problem" based on facts and figures from more than 100 years of rail traffic. You cannot get to point B (closings) until you have proven point A (safety problem). They are ignoring the fact they have not justified this basic premise that would allow them the right to close the crossings and are hoping no one else has noticed this either. Well, unfortunately for them, most of us "country hicks" are not asleep.
They are like a bunch of fifth-graders. They didn't listen to the assignment, didn't do their homework (although they had unlimited resources at their disposal), and when they got caught with their pants down and about to fail, they asked the teacher (Judge Rybak), "Can we have a do-over?" The do-over being "the key" to unlock a closed crossing gate by Subway in case of an emergency. Have they lost their minds? It is inconceivable this professional brain trust could come up with such an idea unless they were on drugs and/or alcohol at the time. It would be funny if it were not so pathetic.
Do you really want to rely on someone with "the key" in a crisis? It makes as much sense as taking time to look for a water pistol when your house is on fire.
They continue to make our lives a living hell by again closing the Subway crossing going north just to prove they have "the power" when the stop light at the four corners has taken care of traffic problems in all four directions for years, including traffic crossing the tracks.
Right or wrong and rhyme or reason have nothing to do with any aspect of this whole situation. It all centers around the fact they want what they want and to heck with how it will affect us.
There is only one solution to this "alleged" problem: Leave the crossings open.
KAREN L. HAZZARD
Johnstown