ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 16, 1994                   TAG: 9411160110
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD WON'T CLOSE RAILROAD CROSSING

The city will not agree to close the Harrison Street railroad crossing in exchange for riverfront acreage owned by Norfolk Southern, city officials reaffirmed at Monday's City Council session. The railroad suggested the deal late last month in a letter to Parks and Recreation Director Ken Goodyear that was circulated to council members.

Councilman David Worrell suggested that Norfolk Southern wasn't listening the first time, when the city declined an offer to trade the Harrison Street closing for a caboose for Bisset Park. "How do we get the message across that we don't want to close Harrison Street?" he said.

The street connects the East End's main thoroughfare, Norwood Street, with West Street. Railroad spokesmen last week cited safety considerations in wanting to close the crossing at the west end of the Norfolk Southern railroad yard.

The city now leases the almost 3.3-acre tract that it wants to connect Bisset Park with the new Veterans' Park softball fields, and Councilwoman Polly Corn - who presided at the meeting in the absence of Mayor Tom Starnes and Vice Mayor Bob Nicholson - said the present arrangement was fine with her. But, Goodyear warned the railroad could cancel the lease.

The letter - from Norfolk Southern's real estate and contract services department - also said the railroad might be willing to swap "another public crossing of similar size" for the land. "There isn't a crossing," City Manager Bob Asbury concluded after consulting a city map and rejecting Ingles Street, the only other possibility. "That would cut off all the New Town area," he said.

In other business, council approved drafting a $10,325 appropriation to equip 10 new members of the Volunteer Fire Department. Council also OK'd spending $1,380 to replace the city's welcome sign on Tyler Avenue.

Council also plans to invite Virginia Cooperative Extension Service representatives to its Dec. 12 meeting to discuss ways to make extension programs available to city residents.

Following a brief executive session, members voted unanimously to accept Worrell's resignation as the city's representative to the New River Valley Economic Development Alliance. Councilman William Yerrick was named to serve the rest of the unexpired term. Worrell said after the meeting that he didn't have time to devote to the position.

City Council has scheduled a 6:15 p.m. work session prior to its next regular meeting Nov. 28 to review the 1994-95 budget and financial performance to date. 


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