When in the heck did they put up that monstrosity at Crescent and Park? OMG is that ugly!! Did anyone hear anything about this prior to them erecting that?

Haven't seen it yet, but IIRC, both the Tribune, the Trib Local, the Metra newsletter (which train riders can pick up) and for all i know the local papers had noted various projects going on for all the lines -- GE was mentioned as having certain safety modifications being made. Number of other stops as well are having the same things done. I remember seeing the story in the Trib some months back - definitely in 2009.

Blame ninnies who think it's fun to dare a train.

It definitely changes the look of the area for the worse, wonder why it couldn't have been moved east a quarter mile? I guess they also put one in at Renfro and near Otto's.

Maybe it's the number of near misses recorded at various stops that triggered the locations? Heck, just last week two kids were stopped at Park & Crescent by the cops for running across the tracks - flashing lights, bells ringing, train blowing the horn, the whole kit and kaboodle.

It's for staging trains. As for student safety? Not likely, can't wait to see who's the first one to climb up on it.

Couldn't have created a more attractive hazard.

Saw them putting it up Sat a.m. - sometime around 9-10ish. I've seen these lying along the side of the tracks on my commute, and have been wondering when they'd go up.

Hello,

Thank you for writing of your concerns. The trustees and I have also received many inquiries about this signal bridge today. Metra informed Glen Ellyn it was going to put it in the signal bridge, leaving little to no ability to negotiate. The original plans called for the signal bridge to be placed between Park Blvd. and Main Street. Metra responded to Glen Ellyn's concerns and moved it to the present location, but was unwilling to move it further east or west.

As stated above, these signal bridges are said to improve the efficency of train traffic throughout the corridor and are being placed all along the line, including in Lombard and Wheaton.

FYI only...hope this helps to explain.

Thanks again,

Mark

Mark Pfefferman

Thank you for some background Mark, your timely response and helpful information is always appreciated. Little to no ability to negotiate is how it is with the RR, I guess we can be thankful it isn't between Park and Main. Still, what an eyesore. And to GEM's point, I can see the kids climbing it now.

How does this thing fit in with the downtown strategic plan? Will it cost more to light it a Christmas? Can we hang signage from it promoting our CBD? Maybe we could make it into a vast speaker column and pump soothing, social calming muzak into the downtown.

Hi,
Very funny Rob! Perhaps we could find a tie-in with the turf and lights that will be there soon. Maybe a "Glen Ellyn Style" mural could be painted on it???

Do I dare go there....Is this part of the MASTER FACILITIES PLAN????

You almost wonder if they didn't originally propose putting it between Park and Main just as a big "F you" to the village, allowing them to move it slightly to the east so they could say how responsive they are to the community's needs.

Will be interesting to see if we notice any improvement in freight management through the area. Maybe they stalled that freight last week on purpose...

I think railroads are private property. Not a lot anyone can do about telling them how to run their business as the nation chose to give them some hefty powers in the name of interstate commerce. Plus GE probably wouldn't exist as the beautiful village it is today if it weren't for the railroad and the decision to build around it. I don't see the problem- they spoke to the village about their safety need, apparently accommodated the Village as best they could. End of story. Plus we seem a little arrogant to assume that one of the largest railroads in the nation is wasting time and $ to F us on a safety signal.

Get your dad to move that thing about 2500 feet to the east.

I think it's funny - when I was concerned about a gubernatorial candidate who thinks it's ok to cause pain and terror to animals because a constituent asked him to, that's a minor and silly issue (just because people who abuse animals tend to abuse people apparently is not on point with regard to candidates).

But, this apparently is a cause celebre? Because, what, having a train station is not a good thing for a community? And, really, the UP is sitting around deciding to pick on poor little GE?

BTW, link to Metra UP West site talking about the upgrades along the line - was around for quite a while. http://www.metraupwest.com/project_benefits.shtml

Railroads can be public corporations but our tracks were C&NW's bought by UP in the 90's I believe. Its not a public right-of-way. Could be wrong but I don't know who else would be the owner.

Yes there is regulation of railroads but for the most part they are private property and they enjoy excellent "we were here first" rights.

Seemingly accurate foamer summary of ownership/operation of various Metra lines here:
Link

I think the new signal bridge might be referenced on this web site railroad.net...

I'm honestly not sure how much leeway the UP had regarding situating these along the line - sounds like a few suburbs got them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ted E.,

quote:

Originally posted by CovetedLakeEllyn:
Do I dare go there....Is this part of the MASTER FACILITIES PLAN????

Funny you should ask.

Next they will install the open green space adjacent to the railway. I just don't know why they installed the "monkey" bars first.

Look at the bright side, the thing will have more lights than the trees in the CBD.

Although I'm not a big fan of having a big signal bridge in our CBD, a triple track crossover is a really tricky thing. Specially when they are in higher speed areas (usually located near rail yards or main stations, so they require quite a bit of signalling. I couldn't even find a drawing of one in any of my books or CAD files.

This would of been in the works for a long time. The turnouts (rail switch) usually take at least 12 - 18 months to design and build.

Here is a pic of an older UP slow speed triple cross over.
UP Triple Crossover

It just seems to me if Jim Young, Chairman of the Union Pacific lived here in Glen Ellyn -- we wouldn't have that ugly thing planted so prominently in the center of Glen Ellyn. It would be in a less obvious location.

So, now that we are stuck with it, what is the possibility of planting some kind of climbing ivy or other kind of attractive vine that could enhance the appearance? I can already anticipate the objections to this, but surely something can be done to make this look more attractive.