A reader recently reached out to Watchdog with concerns about a railroad crossing located next to the entrance of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Manheim Township.
The reader worries because the railroad crossing is so close to the ReStore building at 1061 Manheim Pike, it blocks motorists’ views of passing trains until they are nearly at the tracks when traveling
In 2024, an average of more than 11,500 vehicles used the stretch of Manheim Pike where the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing is located, according to the Federal Railroad Administration and the state Department of Transportation.
The railroad crossing is used by freight trains at a typical speed range of 5 to 10 mph, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
ReStore manager Ben Mathus didn’t know how often trains go by. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, two trains travel across the railroad crossing every week.
“We can hear them, though,” Mathus said, adding the store hasn’t received any complaints about the railroad crossing since the store opened in June 2024.
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Located across the street from the ReStore, Pennsylvania CareerLink Lancaster County’s entrance also is next to the railroad crossing.
“The trains run the horn when they come through by our parking lot and cross between our building and the Foundry Apartments, but there are no lights or gate at that crossing,” said Christine Roggenbaum, administrator at the CareerLink at 1046 Manheim Pike.
The Foundry Apartments, a 96-unit apartment complex, is located across the railroad tracks from CareerLink and has an entrance about 100 feet east of the railroad crossing.
“Now there are more people and more traffic with the apartments next door so it would be more of a concern, especially if there was a deaf person who could not hear the horn,” Roggenbaum said. “We haven’t had any issues, but it’s something for consideration.”
No electronic warning devices
Dave Thompson, spokesperson for PennDOT’s Engineering District 8, which covers Lancaster County, said the Manheim Pike railroad crossing is one of many in the county that lack automatic lights and gates that lower when trains are nearing or passing an intersection.
“You’ll see them at crossings where the risk of accidents is high; however, most of them only have a warning sign and an X-shaped sign that indicates there’s a railroad crossing and drivers need to slow down and be ready to stop,” Thompson said. “When going through a railroad crossing and there’s a sign, it is the responsibility of the motorist to stop and look to see if a train is coming.”
The Manheim Pike railroad crossing has warning signs, including pavement and X-shaped signs, on both sides of the crossing and on both sides of the road.
Thompson said anyone can request lights and/or gates for railroad crossings through the Public Utility Commission.
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The decision to install lights and gates at railroad crossings is made by a diagnostic team of representatives of a railroad, the PUC, PennDOT for state roads, and municipalities for local roads, Thompson said. Manheim Pike is a state-owned road.
PennDOT and the PUC would consider adding electronic warning devices at the Manheim Pike railroad crossing if funds are available and valid justifications are provided, according to Thompson. He said the railroad crossing can be considered for an upgrade during the next fiscal year.
The PUC regulates approximately 65 railroad companies operating in the state with nearly 5,600 miles of track, according to the PUC’s website.
“Crash history, sight distance at the crossing, number of school buses using the crossing, available funding, reported near misses, traffic queuing and other criteria, could all result in the crossing being evaluated,” Thompson said.
“Decisions regarding the type of warning devices appropriate for a given crossing are made by state highway officials or roadway owner, not the railroad,” said Heather Garcia, a spokesperson with Norfolk Southern. “The railroad then partners with the relevant party to install and maintain the warning devices.”
PennDOT is responsible for the advance warning sign showing that there is a railroad crossing ahead, according to Thompson.
“All signs, gates and signals at the crossing itself are the responsibility of the railroad company,” Thompson said.
Some of the factors considered for installing flashing lights and gates include traffic volume, train frequency, visibility issues and accident history, Garcia said. Trains can take a while to stop, she said, often more than a mile.
“Before crossing, drivers should make sure there is space on the other side to completely clear the tracks. When traversing a crossing with passive warning devices, drivers should ensure they can clearly see down the tracks in both directions before proceeding and make sure their vehicle will completely clear the tracks,” Garcia said.
To file a request for lights and gates at a railroad crossing in Lancaster County through the PUC, contact PennDOT Engineering District 8 at 717-787-6653 to initiate the process.
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Who to notify with concerns
Railroad crossing complaints can be made to the PUC by calling 1-800-692-7380 or visiting lanc.news/3QHtjHD and following the instructions to mail and email complaints.
There were 10 collisions involving vehicles and trains in Lancaster County from 2019 through 2023, according to PennDOT. None involved fatalities. Data for 2024 will not be available until later in the spring.
Railroad crossings are evaluated regularly by the Federal Railroad Administration, Thompson said. A complete test of the grade crossing occurs once every year.
Railroad regulations in Pennsylvania require the driver of any vehicle to stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad crossing and while stopped listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train, and for signals indicating the approach of a train.
Notice problems? Email the Lancaster Watchdog at watchdog@lnpnews.com, or go to LancasterOnline.com/watchdog and tell us about it.
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