Kucinich Calls Olmsted Trustees Resolution On Fitch Road “A Victory For The Community”
Will Help Give Community Relief From Train Traffic;Important Step Towards Creating A “Quiet Zone”
Washington,
Jan 23, 2004 -
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), today, congratulated the Olmsted Township Board of Trustees on the unanimous passage of a resolution authorizing the construction of a railroad-highway grade separation at the intersection of Fitch Road and the Norfolk Southern railroad track.
“This resolution is a victory for the community. The resolution will make it possible to use federal money to build a bridge over the track, easing traffic congestion and providing train horn noise relief,” said Kucinich of the resolution, passed Thursday night, at a public meeting of the Olmsted Township Board of Trustees. “I am pleased to be able to help the people Olmsted Township and Olmsted Falls with the federal share of the project.”
Kucinich received $3.75 million in federal funds in 1998 for a Fitch Road grade separation. The separation will provide relief to residents after Norfolk Southern and CSX acquired the assets of the now-defunct Conrail. The merger, approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board, resulted in freight train increases along the old Conrail Mainline, which crosses Fitch Road in Olmsted Township.
Kucinich has also requested an additional $2 million in federal funding for a second grade separation at Stearns Road as part of the 6-year transportation authorization legislation now before Congress.
Both projects will provide noise and traffic congestion relief to area residents and will help enable Olmsted Township to participate in a Quiet Zone project.
Working with the mayors, trustees, state legislators, as well as local, county, state, and federal agencies, Kucinich has advocated a Quiet Zone project for Olmsted Township, Olmsted Falls, Berea, Brook Park, and Brooklyn.
“We are now in the final stages of Quiet Zone development, with state legislation in Columbus and a final draft Quiet Zone rule in Washington,” continued Kucinich. “Together, this community has fought for train horn relief, and soon we will have it. Action by the Township Trustees is a major milestone for our community.”
