This week Arizona Corporation Commissioners unanimously voted to order BNSF Railway Company to close the grade crossing at 35th Avenue and Indian School Roads in Phoenix to vehicular traffic unless public safety improvements are agreed upon by stakeholders prior to May 19, 2018.
On August 16, 2013, the Corporation Commission issued Decision No. 74043, allowing ADOT, BNSF and the City of Phoenix to complete railroad grade crossing upgrades at 35th Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. ADOT’s application to the Commission stated that a pre-signal would be installed south of the existing crossing for northbound traffic at 35th Avenue as a protective measure to ensure public safety.
The City of Phoenix was given 15 months from the Order being signed to complete the project, which was not met. Earlier this year, the City of Phoenix installed new traffic signals on the north side of the existing crossing, not on the south side as was directed in the Order. This has led to confusion for motorists approaching the intersection, creating a hazard to public safety. This particular intersection is the worst grade crossing in the nation according to data from the Federal Railroad Administration, with over 90 incidents since 1972, the year such data began being collected.
The Commission made the decision to exercise its authority under A.R.S. 40-377 to order BNSF to close the intersection to the motoring public unless a fix is agreed to by May 19, 2018.