Train derailment McKinley and Blackstone ave. Fresno

The derailment today (19jun07) at McKinley and Blackstone is another exclamation point for the Rail Consolidation struggle. These railroad tracks cut right through the heart of town. Thousands of people cross hundreds of times a day at dozens of crossings. It's only a matter of time until another tragic accident happens. And will the really big one come any time soon? I hope not because I live just a half block away.

The fact that Railroad tracks carrying over 40 trains a day run right through the middle of Fresno City College campus is amazing.

On Sept. 13 2001 Junior Puletapuai, an FCC football player was killed trying to beat the train as he returned from football practice. It was the last straw and they finally put in an undercrossing on the campus. Another young man was killed trying to beat the train just a few months ago, too. It is a nightmarish recurring theme. To put the blame solely on the people who err in judgement and chalk it up to stupidity is insensitive and selfish.

These tracks should be moved. And probably will be moved at some point in the future. According to www.movethetracks.org about $100 million of the $600 million needed to make it happen was approved in the last election. We're a long way away, but it's a start.

The loss of life. There have been so many people killed on these tracks, most by accident, some by suicide. The lurking danger day after day for everyone that crosses the tracks and for everyone that lives nearby has become unbearable.

If that tanker car would have released it's flammable gas into the air how many people would have been injured or killed?

The intersection of McKinley and Blackstone will be closed today (wed. june 20) as the crews fix the damaged road, tracks and crossing arms.