THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
I took pride in noting that one of our areas corporate giants, Norfolk Southern Corp., posted a whopping second-quarter earnings.
However, isn't it time Norfolk Southern Corp. became a good neighbor and spread a small percentage of the record $181.2 million (this is only one-quarter of its year's earnings) to repair and level its major track crossings at Colonial Avenue, Llewellyn Avenue, Granby Street and Church Street in Norfolk?
Traffic has to slow down or stop when approaching and crossing these intersections. These irregular crossings cause mechanical and financial toll on the suspensions and tires of many motorists' vehicles.
Hampton Roads motorists would welcome a more modern road-crossing surface than the antiquated wooden ties that make for a roller-coaster ride over the rails.
The city of Norfolk must share in some of this blame for allowing such an impediment to smooth, safe vehicular travel.
How long would it take Norfolk Southern Corp. to repair its tracks if its trains had to repeatedly slow down to cross unsafe portions or suffered mechanical and financial problems due to poor maintenance of asphalt-highway crossings? These crossings should be brought up to 20th century standards and materials with adequate maintenance.
ROBERT K. ANDER JR.
Norfolk, July 31, 1995 by CNB