web1_Bill-Barrett.jpg

Councilman worried street-sweeping deal could take WB to the cleaners

web1_TTL122918Museum_2.jpg

Corrected petitions add candidate to Wilkes-Barre District B council race

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Motorists will notice new markings on the roadway as they approach street-level railroad crossings in the city.</p><p>The markings at eight crossings should be completed by next week, weather permitting, said Butch Frati, Wilkes-Barre&#8217;s Director of Operations.</p><p>They&#8217;re being applied as part of the safety improvements after the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation inspected the crossings following <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/722139/near-misses-between-trains-cars-in-wb-raise-crossing-safety-questions" target="_blank">an October Times Leader story</a> and video showing a motorist<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAPppkTUOjQ" target="_blank"> narrowly missing an approaching train on East Market </a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAPppkTUOjQ" target="_blank">Street</a>.</p><p>Officials from the city and the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, which owns the tracks, joined PUC and PennDOT at the inspections.</p><p>&#8220;The PUC recommended those be done and we agreed,&#8221; Frati said.</p><p>Workers from Mayo Striping applied the thermo-plastic markings in both directions of travel on the pavement at the East Market Street crossing Thursday.</p><p>Those markings, though more expensive, will last longer than painted lines, Frati said. He estimated it costs $2,200 per crossing compared to several hundred for painted lines.</p><p>The crossing on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard near the entrance and exit ramps of the North Cross Valley Expressway was done earlier this week. The other locations are Parrish Street, Butler Street, Dana Street, Hazle Street, Conyngham Avenue and East Northampton Street.</p><p><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/731041/safety-enhancements-planned-for-downtown-wilkes-barre-train-crossings" target="_blank">The inspections also called for other </a><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/731041/safety-enhancements-planned-for-downtown-wilkes-barre-train-crossings" target="_blank">improvements</a>, which are completed or planned:</p><p>Among them are the installation of flashing yellow lights to new yield signs at the Wilkes-Barre Boulevard crossing, making two crossbuck signs at the Parrish Street crossing more visible, trimming a bush at the Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel &amp; Conference Center lot to provide better visibility for drivers approaching the East Market Street crossing, and the replacement of missing signs at the Butler Street crossing.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031519striping2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Andy Balant, Mike Niedzwiecki and Joe Lenchick paint railroad crossing markings on East Market Street Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031519striping2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Andy Balant, Mike Niedzwiecki and Joe Lenchick paint railroad crossing markings on East Market Street Thursday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031519striping1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Andy Balant applies tape for a railroad crossing sign to be painted on East Market Street Thursday afternoon. Workers from Mayo Striping were updating lines and signs on the roadway as part of a project to improve crossing safety. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL031519striping1-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Andy Balant applies tape for a railroad crossing sign to be painted on East Market Street Thursday afternoon. Workers from Mayo Striping were updating lines and signs on the roadway as part of a project to improve crossing safety. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Pavement markings added to make WB railroad crossings safer</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>Editorial</strong></p><p>Kudos for RR crossing upgrades, <strong>11A.</strong></p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>