City officials hope problems caused by trains blocking major roads in West Layton can be solved within two years.
Because of the area's proximity to the Freeport Center, major city roads are periodically blocked by trains that have cleared the road but have not moved far enough to raise the crossing arms.This nuisance and potential blockage for emergency vehicles has long been a concern for city leaders.
In kind of a swan song effort, Mayor James Layton helped arrange a meeting between the Union Pacific Railroad and state officials to discuss possible solutions to the blockages.
Mayor Layton said the meeting was productive and he learned that of the six railroad crossings in the city, only one - on West Hill Road (west of Wal-Mart) - has what is called a constant warning signal. This crossing arm device is directly linked to U.P. offices at Omaha, Neb., and if a train clears the road but then stops just a few yards beyond, the crossing barriers can still be raised almost instantly.
However, these elaborate signal devices are expensive and that's why Layton officials also met with state officials to discuss possible funding. The state has indicated that funding to upgrade the other five busy railroad crossings in Layton with constant warning signals might be available by 1995.
In Layton's City's long-range plan, a fire substation in West Layton - near 2200 West - is also planned in the late 1990s. This would provide better emergency access to the area, in spite of stalled trains.