High Forest shortcut. The minimially maintained foot path over the tracks will now be blocked off. Why? For safety. Image: Steve Lunde
But not the similar Carimona crossing, which stays
WINONA, Minn. — The Winona City Council voted 4-3to close the pedestrian path across the Canadian Pacific mainline on High Forest Street on the Far East End. The state Transportation Department had recommended the closing for safety reasons. The crossing has no warning, flashers, bells or whistles and is unevenly steep and doesn’t meet federal standards for disability access. City Council member Jerome Christenson expressed concern about kids bicycling over the tracks. The Council didn’t accept a similar state recommendation to close the Carimona pedestrian crossing three blocks away, which was deemed less unsafe.
Rail traffic
The state wanted both the High Forest and Carimona pedestrian crossings closed because of new rail traffic with two Amtrak Borealis passenger trains day. A fact, however, is that the number of trains a day through the city has declined significantly in recent ears because the Canadian Pacific is running far fewer albeit much longer freight trains.
How they voted: On closing High Forest crossing
To close
George Borzyskowski, Ward 4 (East End)
Jeff Hyma, Ward 2 (West Side)
Scott Sherman, mayor
Steve Young, Ward 1 (Fleeting harbor and West End)
Against
Jerome Christenson, at large
Pam Eyden, Ward 3 (WSU and downtown)
Aaron Repinski, at large