Funds secured to install arms at Larimore railroad crossing

By Anna Burleson

January 20, 2015 at 7:04 PM

Local and state agencies are moving forward with BNSF Railway to fund the installation of automated crossing arms at the intersection near Larimore, N.D., where a school bus and train collision killed two people .

County Highway Engineer Nick West told the Grand Forks County Commission Tuesday that the North Dakota Department of Transportation has agreed to fund 90 percent of the project, which is estimated to cost between $250,000 and $500,000. BNSF Railway, the company involved in the crash, has agreed to 5 percent and the County Commission agreed to fund the remaining amount.

"That's not a lot of money when you figure what's the value of a human life?" commissioner Cynthia Pic said.

West said while the crossing where the crash happened technically meets federal standards and the DOT has a lot of crossings it is looking at upgrading, this one took precedence in light of the tragedy earlier this month that killed 17-year-old Cassidy Sandstrom and the bus driver Max Danner.

The incident is still under investigation and the cause is unknown.
"These decisions are very difficult as we try to balance between what is right and best for our community with our available resources," West said.

Moving forward

The Jan. 5 accident is the second fatal crash since 2009 at that particular intersection near Larimore.

While there's no exact formula for determining what kind of crossing is installed at a train intersection, the determining factors are usually the amount of train and vehicle traffic, along with surrounding environmental factors like visibility.

West said the DOT and BNSF got on board with the project after two site visits with Larimore school and law enforcement officials.

"The decision to make improvements at crossings is always a joint effort on the part of the railroad, the DOT and the local road authority, if applicable, with the railroad having the final decision as it is their right of way," West said.

The county will now make a request of the DOT, which will work with BNSF to negotiate a contract. BNSF will be in charge of design, installation and continued maintenance.

West said the whole project is slated to be completed in 18 months and construction should begin in October or November.

West said Grand Forks County has 137 train crossings with roads, 100 of which only have crossbuck signs, 34 of which are signalized with automated arms, seven are built around underpasses or overpasses and three have flashing lights. The remainder are private and ineligible for state funding.

In 2014, the county had four reported train collisions, only one of which resulted in injuries, West said

But he also made a point to note automated arms may not have helped that day near Larimore and they're not the ultimate answer.

"The driver still needs to stop," he said.

More on the crash:

Tragedy at the tracks: Student, driver killed after train and school bus crash

Accident brings back painful memories for Larimore woman

Larimore man dragged injured student out from under bus after crash with train

After fatal Larimore train crash, Twin Cities families offer food, beds for loved ones of those involved

Larimore Strong: People react to fatal school bus crash in Larimore, North Dakota

Parents: Larimore crash victim tried to save students on bus

Victims of Larimore crash remembered by family, friends

Community raises funds for Larimore crash victims