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Meng Urges NYC and New York and Atlantic Railway to Implement Safety Improvements Outlined in Probe of Maspeth, Queens Train Crash

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) recently urged the City of New York and New York and Atlantic Railway (NYA) to implement critical safety improvements that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) outlined in its report on the Maspeth, Queens train crash.

In letters to New York City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and NYA President Paul Victor, Meng called for immediate upgrades to local grade crossings in order to prevent additional collisions.

The Maspeth crash occurred on July 8, 2015 when a freight train operated by NYA slammed into a tractor-trailer at the grade crossing on Maspeth Avenue. The gate at the grade crossing failed to come down in time and the tractor-trailer burst into flames after the impact. Meng called on the FRA to investigate the incident and the agency’s report – which was released this past Sunday – revealed that NYA was at fault. It also highlighted numerous operational and safety problems with the railway company including issues at local grade crossings where only NYA freight trains pass through.

“Dangerous safety conditions remain at area grade crossings, and every day that lingers without these critical improvements is another day where lives are at risk,” said Meng. “The City and NYA must act before another crash occurs. The safety of drivers, local residents and train personnel cannot continue to be jeopardized.”

Meng also asked Trottenberg and Victor to notify her when the safety upgrades are completed. The specific grade crossing improvements outlined by the FRA, and the ones that the City and NYA are each are responsible for fixing, are listed in the respective letters.

NYA is based in Glendale, Queens. A grade crossing is an intersection where a road or highway crosses railroad tracks at the same level.

Meng’s letter to Trottenberg can be viewed here.

Meng’s letter to Victor can be viewed here.

The FRA’s report can be viewed here.

Meng’s statement on the FRA report can be viewed here.

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